Penshaw Monument

One of the North East's most well known landmarks due to it's elevated position it can be seen from miles around . The monument was designed by John and Bejamin Green and modelled on the Greek  Thesion temple in Athens and has a one of the best viewpoints  giving a 360 degree  perspective of the North East  including Tyneside, Wearside and County Durham. Completed in 1844 at a cost of around £6,000 which was raised by public subscription in honour of the first Earl of Durham,  John George Lambton who had died 4 years earlier, the interior  and roof of the monument were never completed due to lack of funds. Located just outside Sunderland  a short distance off the A19  on the A183
The Doric  tetrastyle  monument has the following dimensions:
30 metres (98 ft) long, 16 metres (52 ft) wide and 20 metres (66 ft) high. The columns are each 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in diameter.

Penshaw monument was given to the national trust by the 5th Earl of Durham in 1939 and a placard has been placed on the monument with the inscription
THIS STONE WAS LAID BY THOMAS, EARL OF ZETLAND GRAND MASTER OF THE FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF ENGLAND ASSISTED BY THE BRETHREN OF THE PROVINCES OF DURHAM AND NORTHUMBERLAND ON THE 28TH AUGUST 1844 BEING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF A MEMORIAL TO BE ERRECTED TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN GEORGE EARL OF DURHAM WHO AFTER REPRESENTING THE COUNTY OF DURHAM IN PARLIAMENT FOR FIFTEEN YEARS WAS RAISED TO THE PEERAGE AND SUBSEQUENTLY HELD THE OFFICES OF LORD PRIVY SEAL, AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND MINISTER AT THE COURT OF ST. PETERSBURG AND GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA. HE DIED ON THE 28TH OF JULY 1840 IN THE 49TH YEAR OF HIS AGE THE MONUMENT WILL BE ERECTED BY THE PRIVATE SUBSCRIPTIONS OF HIS FELLOW COUNTRYMEN ADMIRERS OF HIS DISTINGUISHED TALENTS AND EXAMPLARY PRIVATE VIRTUES.
DONATED TO THE NATIONAL TRUST ON 1ST SEPTEMBER 1939

Parking
At the base of the monument there is limited parking or you can park at old Penshaw village and walk from there  To get to the top there are steep steps not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies.

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