Big demand for vintage Hartlepool tourism posters as another sells for £800 - helping Boer war statue campaign

The framed 115-year-old Healthful Hartlepool poster was auctioned off by town businessman and history enthusiast Stephen Close towards the project to fund a replacement Boer War statue in Ward Jackson Park.

It sold for an impressive £800 to an anonymous bidder. It means the appeal has now reached over £15,000 with 10 months to raise the final £10,000.

It was the second poster auctioned for the fund after another also raised £800 in April.

Appeal organiser Stephen is now on the lookout more of the original posters towards the project.

He said: “These 115-year-old advertising posters are still in big demand.

"We know that there are many more in circulation and we wold like to hear from you if you own one.”

Stephen added: “These posters could be the key to raising the remainder of the monies hence securing the replacement statue next year.”

The first poster auctioned off had been held by Stephen for around five years after acquiring it from the family of the late Doug Ferriday, a well-known photographer in Stockton Road and former councillor and mayor of Hartlepool.

It was bought by Steve Dawson, a former Hartlepool Mail employee, who now lives in Hertfordshire.

The second was generously donated by local businessman Owen Corrigan after reading about the project and reluctantly agreed to part with it after 40 years.

Stephen then had it professionally reframed.

The new statue of a Boer War soldier has been specially designed North East artist Ray Lonsdale.

He is due to begin fabrication of it next year.

It will replace the park’s original bronze soldier that was paid for by the people of the town in 1906, but stolen in 1968.

A stone plinth with the names of 23 Hartlepool men who died in the war in South Africa between 1899 and 1902 is still in place.

Anyone who has an original Healthful Hartlepool poster or any other Hartlepool memorabilia they are willing to part with is asked to email [email protected]

Donations can also be made at www.gofundme.com/f/the-replacement-boer-war-statue

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