Penshaw Monument

About:

Penshaw Monument, officially known as the Earl of Durham’s Monument, is a striking neoclassical structure perched atop Penshaw Hill near Sunderland, England. Constructed between 1844 and 1845, it serves as a memorial to John George Lambton, the 1st Earl of Durham, a prominent political reformer and the first Governor-General of British North America.

Designed by Newcastle architects John and Benjamin Green, the monument is a half-scale replica of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens. It features 18 unfluted Doric columns—seven along each side and four at each end—supporting a substantial entablature and pediments, but notably lacks a roof or inner chamber . The structure measures approximately 30 meters in length, 16 meters in width, and rises to a height of 20 metres.

Built from local gritstone donated by the Marquess of Londonderry, the monument’s construction was funded through public subscription. One of its columns contains a spiral staircase leading to a parapeted walkway atop the entablature. However, this access was closed to the public in 1926 following a fatal accident.

Today, Penshaw Monument is managed by the National Trust and is a Grade I listed building. It stands 136 meters above sea level, offering panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including the nearby Herrington Country Park. The monument is illuminated at night and has become an iconic symbol of the region, even featuring on the badge of Sunderland A.F.C. Visitors can explore the site year-round, and during certain periods, guided tours allow access to the top via the internal staircase .