Inside story of the hanging of the Hartlepool monkey, as Stroud monkey runs amok

News of a monkey operating free in Stroud has set the nation bananas – nevertheless it’s not the primary time barmy Brits have supposedly gone bonkers about an errant primate.

The nickname of Hartlepool United FC is the Monkey Hangers. Why? Because of the misfortune of a castaway monkey mistaken for a Frenchman – or so the story goes.

Sounds weird, however as residents across the outskirts of Stroud within the Whiteshill space report sightings of this mysterious monkey, the remainder of the nation waits with bated breath. It appears the UK has a observe report for this form of factor.

READ MORE: ‘Anyone misplaced a monkey?’ – UK village surprised after sightings of prowling primate

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It was a stormy day within the early nineteenth century and the Napoleonic Wars have been in full swing. Europe was deeply divided and paranoia and nationalism stalked the continent. On this present day, legend has it {that a} French Ship, one in all Emporer Bonaparte’s, was seen in hassle off the coast of Hartlepool, within the north-east of England.

This was lengthy earlier than TV, web, radio, and even readily accessible journey. This meant that a lot of the British inhabitants didn’t know what a French particular person – not to mention a monkey – regarded like. As the ship floundered and finally submitted to the North Sea, Brits on the shore watched on.

But because the water lapped up towards Old Blighty, delivering particles from the boat, they supposedly introduced with them an sudden survivor – the ship’s mascot. A monkey.

It was mentioned to be the vessel’s solely survivor, however the British are reported to haven’t identified it was a monkey, however as a substitute thought it was a French sailor.

The story says that they mistook his monkey chattering to be French and shortly convicted it of being a French spy and sentenced it to hold.

The townfolk grew to become referred to as the Monkey Hangers which has since grow to be part of Hartlepool’s historical past and id. Hartlepool’s mascot is, to this present day a mascot, known as H’angus. He’s been elected because the city’s mayor 3 times – though is definitely a bloke in a swimsuit known as Stuart Drummond.

Whether or not the story is true continues to be a matter of debate. Keith Gregson, an writer, historian and retired trainer from the city, beforehand instructed the BBC: “There isn’t any proof in anyway that the folks of Hartlepool hanged a monkey”.

Mr Drummond disagrees. “Of course it occurred,” he said.

“It is just too weird a narrative to make up so there should be some aspect of reality in it. There are all the time going to be naysayers and other people making an attempt to show it is incorrect however there’s not anybody alive now who was there who might verify or deny it.”

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