Penshaw

Penshaw
County Durham
Penshaw Monument, from Herrington Country Park
Location
Grid reference:	NZ329538
Location:	54°52’42"N, 1°29’15"W
Data
Post town:	Houghton Le Spring
Postcode:	DH4
Dialling code:	0191
Local Government
Council:	Sunderland
Parliamentary constituency:	Houghton and Washington East

Penshaw is a village in County Durham, in the north-east of the county close to the lower reaches of the River Wear. It is found about three miles north of Houghton-le-Spring, which stands just over the Wear from Washington. The village borders Herrington Country Park and is surrounded by a series of villages: Herrington, Shiney Row, Biddick, Coxgreen and Offerton.

Name

The name of the village has also been rendered as known as 'Painshaw' and 'Pensher'. The name appears to be from the Old English words penn meaning a 'pen' or 'fold' and sceaga ('shaw'); a wood or thicket.

Churches

• Church of England: All Saints
• Roman Catholic: Our Lady Queen of Peace

In and about the village

Penshaw Monument, from the south

Penshaw is well-known locally for Penshaw Monument, a prominent landmark built in 1844 atop Penshaw Hill, which is a half-scale replica of the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens.

Herrington Country Park is easily accessible and the Park contains a well-used young person's play area, a performance bowl, a skateboard park, a lake with extensive wildlife and a memorial site to Herrington Colliery which once mined the site for coal. The country park also holds many events like the county show which includes dog shows, face painting,bouncy castles etc.

There are three public houses, The Prospect (original name recently restored), The Monument (formerly The Ship) and The Grey Horse. There are three Chinese takeaways and an Indian restaurant

At the foot of Penshaw Hill is Penshaw Riding School. At the centre of Barnwell is an extensive playing field and young person's play area.

There are extensive views from the top of Penshaw Hill on a clear day: Durham Cathedral to the South West, the coast of Roker and Seaburn to the east and the Cheviot Hills to the north.

Sport

• Wearside Golf Club, club originating in 1892

Events

• For children:
  • Easter egg rolling competition on Penshaw Hill.
• Scarecrow hunt

• Penshaw Hill Race: cross-country event held in June, organised by the Sunderland Harriers

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Penshaw)