Penshaw Monument – A Lucky Dash for a Fiery Sunset

Penshaw Monument has dominated the Wearside skyline since 1844, built as a grand memorial to John George Lambton, the 1st Earl of Durham. Inspired by the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens, its huge sandstone columns and classical form stand out sharply against the rolling landscape between Sunderland and Durham. Over the decades it has become a defining landmark for the region, visible for miles and woven into the everyday identity of Wearside. Even if you’ve seen it a thousand times, the monument has a knack for surprising you when the light and weather align.

This capture wasn’t planned at all – just one of those rare moments when instinct takes over. The sky began to glow, the colours started to build, and before I knew it I was sprinting up the hill with nothing but my phone, hoping I’d make it in time. That fiery sunset pouring through the columns made the whole monument look ancient, defiant and almost alive. Sometimes the best images come from chance and a bit of urgency, when preparation gives way to pure instinct and the landscape rewards you for turning up.