Editing Penshaw

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox UK place
| map_type                 = Tyne and Wear
| country                  = England
| type                     = [[Village]]
| official_name            = Penshaw
| coordinates              = {{coord|54.875842|-1.484793|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| population               =
| metropolitan_borough     = [[City of Sunderland]]
| metropolitan_county      = [[Tyne and Wear]]
| region                   = North East England
| constituency_westminster = [[Houghton and Sunderland South]]
| post_town                = HOUGHTON LE SPRING
| postcode_area            = DH
| postcode_district        = DH4
| dial_code                = 0191
| os_grid_reference        = 
| static_image_name        = Penshaw Hill.jpg
| static_image_caption     = Penshaw Monument, from [[Herrington]] Country Park 
}}

'''Penshaw''' {{IPAc-en|local|ˈ|p|ɛ|n|ʃ|ə}}, formerly known as ''Painshaw'' or ''Pensher'' is a village in the [[metropolitan district]] of [[City of Sunderland|Sunderland]], in [[Tyne and Wear]], England. [[Historic counties of England|Historically]], Penshaw was located in [[County Durham]].

== Name and etymology ==
The name ''Penshaw'' was recorded in the 1190s as ''Pencher'' and is of [[Cumbric]] origin.<ref>Bethany Fox, '[http://www.heroicage.org/issues/10/fox.html The P-Celtic Place-Names of North-East England and South-East Scotland]', ''The Heroic Age'', 10 (2007), [http://www.heroicage.org/issues/10/fox-appendix.html appendix].</ref> The first element is ''pen'', meaning 'hill' or 'summit' and the second ''*cerr/*carr'' - 'stone, hard surface'.<ref name="BLITON">{{cite web |url=http://spns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Alan_James_Brittonic_Language_in_the_Old_North_BLITON_Volume_II_Dictionary.pdf |title=The Brittonic Language in the Old North - A Guide to the Place-Name Evidence |access-date=3 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170813011121/http://spns.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Alan_James_Brittonic_Language_in_the_Old_North_BLITON_Volume_II_Dictionary.pdf |archive-date=13 August 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== History ==
Penshaw was formerly a [[Township (England)|township]] and [[chapelry]] in the parish of [[Houghton-le-Spring]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/place/2775|title=History of Penshaw, in Sunderland and County Durham|publisher=[[A Vision of Britain through Time]]|accessdate=6 September 2024}}</ref> in 1866 Penshaw became a separate [[civil parish]], on 1 April 1937 the parish was abolished and merged with Houghton le Spring and [[Offerton, Tyne and Wear|Offerton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10077837|title=Relationships and changes Penshaw CP/Ch through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=6 September 2024}}</ref> In 1931 the parish had a population of 7183.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10077837/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Penshaw CP/Ch through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=6 September 2024}}</ref>

== Features ==
[[File:Penshaw Monument on hill.jpg|thumb|left|180px|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]]. Owing to its proximity to [[Durham, England|Durham City]], the area was allocated a Durham postcode, [[DH postcode area|DH4]], which forms part of the [[Houghton-le-Spring]] [[post town]]. It lies about three miles north of Houghton-le-Spring, just over the [[River Wear]] from [[Washington, Tyne and Wear|Washington]]. It borders Herrington Country Park and is surrounded by a series of villages: Herrington, Shiney Row, Biddick, Coxgreen and Offerton.

Leisure facilities include the easily accessible [[Herrington]] Country Park, which contains a play area, [[amphitheatre]], skateboard park, lake with extensive wildlife and a memorial site to Herrington Colliery which once mined the site for coal. The site hosts public events such as the county show which includes dog shows, face painting and bouncy castles. There are three public houses, The Prospect (original name recently restored), The Monument (formerly The Ship) and The Grey Horse. Though no working men's club remains, a Catholic club is situated on Station Rd.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.penshawtandoori.co.uk/|title=Penshaw Tandoori}}</ref> Community facilities include Penshaw Community Centre and All Saints' Church Hall; both organise regular spring and summer events. In the village, at the foot of Penshaw Hill, is Penshaw Equestrian Centre.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://penshaw-equestrian.ecpro.co.uk/|title=Penshaw Equestrian Centre|website=penshaw-equestrian.ecpro.co.uk}}</ref> At the centre of Barnwell is an extensive playing field and young person's play area. Penshaw also has three primary schools within walking distance of one other: Barnwell, New Penshaw and Our Lady Queen of Peace Roman Catholic.

There are two annual events for children, an easter egg rolling competition on Penshaw Hill<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seeitdoitsunderland.co.uk/penshaw-bowl|title=Penshaw Bowl}}</ref> and a [[scarecrow]] hunt [https://web.archive.org/web/20160118162929/http://penshawcommunityassociation.org.uk/ScarecrowTrailEvent.html Scarecrow Trail Event] organised by the village community.

An annual cross-country event takes place in May or June each year when Sunderland Harriers stage the Penshaw Hill Race<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sunderlandharriers.org.uk/penshaw/775|title = Sunderland Harriers - Promoting Athletics Throughout the NE of England, UK}}</ref> with a presentation to the winner and runners up in The Monument public house after the race.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/uk/sunderland-echo/20170531/282192240944062 |title=Barker Tipped To Be King Of Penshaw Hill |via=PressReader}}</ref>

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.

The Hill, as it is known locally, also overlooks Wearside Golf Club, a long-established golf club originating in 1892 and Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light can also be seen clearly from here.

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline|Penshaw}}

{{authority control}}{{T&W places}}

[[Category:Villages in Tyne and Wear]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in Tyne and Wear]]
[[Category:City of Sunderland]]
[[Category:County Durham places with etymologically Brittonic names]]