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The Angel of the North is a contemporary steel sculpture of an angel designed by Antony Gormley. It stands on a hill, in Gateshead, on the southern edge of Low Fell, overlooking the A1 and A167 roads into Tyneside, and the East Coast Main Line rail route.

The 208-tonne “Angel” basically takes the form of a human figure. At 20 metres high, the Angel is higher than a five-storey building. Its wings are 54 metres wide - almost the same as a jumbo jet.

Due to its exposed location, the sculpture was built to withstand winds of over 100 mph. It is anchored to the solid rock beneath by massive concrete piles 22 metres deep. It is made of weather resistant steel, containing copper, which forms a patina on the surface that mellows with age.

When first unveiled in February 1998, the Angel aroused much controversy and has since become one of the most talked about pieces of public art ever produced. It is now considered to be a landmark for the Northeast of England and has been listed by one organisation as an "Icon of England". It has often been used in film and television to represent the Northeast of England.

Link - Gateshead Council
Link - Angel of the North homepage

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