The former town was originally formed in 1848 as an accompanying settlement for nearby railway and docks, which brought and exported coal from the area.

[3] The area known as Newburn Raw, part of the ancient village of Stranton, steadily grew into a centre for shipping and railway transport.

Five years later, also on 1 June, the Jackson dock (14 acres (0.057 km2)) opened as well as a railway connecting West Hartlepool to Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool.

[4] Supporting shipbuilding and repair were: a canvas manufacturing firm, Bastow Brothers and W. Taylor iron foundries, block and mast makers and other related machinery.

In 1878 the William Gray & Company ship yard in West Hartlepool achieved the distinction of launching the largest tonnage of any shipyard in the world, a feat to be repeated on a number of occasions.