Penshaw Monument is Sunderland's most prominent landmark. It dominates the skyline and standing on Penshaw hill it's visible for miles around. Modelled on the Greek Temple of Theseion, it was in memory of John George Lambton born 1792, 1st Earl of Durham, otherwise known as Radical Jack. Public subscription paid for the monument, John and Benjamin Green of Newcastle were responsible for the design. Thomas Pratt born 1794 was a Sunderland builder who became successful and wealthy building Penshaw Monument, in 1844. The Monument was built not a parthenon on solid rock, but on a scrub covered hillock as a result it looks better from afar. A way marked circular walk of about three and a half miles links Penshaw Monument to both natural and industrial archaeological features above the near by River Wear.
Lambton Castle is across the Wear to the west of Penshaw and Shiney Row. The castle was the home of the Lambton family whose ancestor, as the folk song tells us, went fishing in the Wear instead of attending Sunday church. The song goes on to say that he caught a monstrous worm (or dragon). For reasons known only to young Lambton, he put it in a well where it grew to enormous size and terrorized the neighbourhood. Luckily for him, he was on a crusade while the reign of terror took place.
Returning, he met a witch who told him how to kill the worm. This meant wading into the river wearing specially protected armour. Another condition was, he must kill the next living thing he saw, or 'the lords of Lambton would not die in their beds for nine generations. His father released an old dog, hoping vainly in the event that this would be the first living creature young Lambton met. Although the ballad is set in the time of the Crusades, it seems to echo old dragon slaying epics Beowulf for example. Lambton Castle is basically a 19th century creation, used at one time as a teacher training college. The present holder of the title lives at Biddick Hall.
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