Location Summary
NT manged property. Short hill walk up to the monument. Extensive panoramic views.
Impressive Greek style monument.
Public footpaths lead to the river Wear and so can be used as the start and finish of longer walks.
Shorter walks available near to the monument.
Website: NT Penshaw
Car Park: Free (roadside parking)
Fee: Free
Expand to see Walks including this Place Event (Click To View)
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Captain's Log
Penshaw Monument
17/03/23
Penshaw
Travel north on the A19 and just before you reach Sunderland, you can see what looks like a large Greek temple on the top of a hill. This is Penshaw. I'd driven by this mysterious structure for years and often pondered who built it and why. It wasn't until 2019 that I paid my first visit to the monument.
I parked on the roadside at the bottom of the monument. It is only when you get this close that you appreciate its size. I started climbing the steep steps up the hillside and noticed some cows mooching around the perimeter of the temple. The monument was built between 1844-45 to commemorate John Lambton. I'd never heard of this fellow, but given his credentials maybe, that's an indication of my ignorance; he was the 1st Earl of Durham, Governor General of British North America and author of the Durham Report on the future governance of the American territories. The property is now owned by the National Trust. One of the columns contains a spiral staircase to give access to a parapeted walkway along the entablature (that's the bit that runs along the top. to save you Googling). You can book yourself on a supervised tour of the elevated walkway.
Penshaw Monument
Unfortunately, the monument hasn't escaped the attention of the graffiti idiots. Something that comes as a bit of a surprise is that it doesn't have a roof. Oddly enough, I think that actually enhances the building, in that it brightens the interior. The building is on the top of Penshaw Hill and has an extensive view in all directions. Apparently the monument can be seen from 50 miles away.
The river Wear is just down in the valley to the north. I've done walks from Penshaw, both upstream and downstream along the Wear. They were interesting and picturesque walks. Maybe, I'll get back down there someday and document them in Nunswalks. I didn't have time today though. My next stop on today's itinerary was the Washington Wetland Centre. In fact, that was just down below, at the side of the river Wear. Due to time constraints, I'd be driving there rather than walking.
I'd followed a teenage couple back down the steps to the car. The boy drove a rather expensive looking BMW into the middle of the road and started revving it. From the sound of it, he'd had some sort of sports exhaust fitted. His girlfriend crounched down near to the tarmac and recorded this performance on her phone, making sure to get the Penshaw monument in the background too. I'm sure their friends on social media would be impressed by the Grecian inspired architecture of Penshaw.
For info, Sunderland AFC's emblem has the Penshaw monument on it.