The Original Washington

Washington Old Hall is the ancestral home of General George Washington, the first president of the United States of America.  They American people named their new capital after this small Durham village. Evidence indicates that Washington was an important site in Celtic and Anglo-Saxon England.  The spelling changed over the centuries: Wessington, Wessyngton, Weshington These early spellings meant soak or steeping in Saxon, similar to the modern German word wasser for water. A wash is also a body of water as in the Wash, a large bay on the East Coast of England.  It is clear that Washington was originally an extremely wet area.

Another version of the name suggests that it comes from Hwaes ( a Saxon chief) ing, meaning family and tun or estate, hence the home of Hwaes’ (wassa) people. Sir William de Hertburn, the first Washington ancestor to live in the area moved there from Morpeth in Northumberland during 1183.  Landowners at that time took their names from their properties and William de Hertburn became William de Wessyngton.  The Washington coat of arms, consisting of stars and stripes later formed the basis of the American flag. William built the stone manor house for his Scottish bride, Margaret, sister of King William the Lion.  This Norman stayed in the Washington family until the death of his great, great, great, great grandson, Sir William de Wessington V in 1399.  He had no male heirs and his daughter married into the Tempest family, taking the hall and estates with her. India tours

The family later moved south to Sulgrave Manor in Northamptonshire before emigrating in 1657 to Northern Neck in Virginia. The original 12th Century manor house was torn down in 1613 and the present hall was built on the foundations by William James, Prince Bishop of Durham.  It was later let out to tenants in the 18th Century and began to fall into disrepair.  The hall was threatened with demolition in 1936. Local historian and teacher Fred Hill started a campaign to save it for the people of Washington.  The hall was fully restored and opened to the public by the American Ambassador in 1955.  It was handed over to the National Trust, who now maintain it two years later.

Washington Old Hall, which is built of local sandstone is a typical example of a small 17th Century English manor house, is open to the public through much of the year and many lectures are held in various rooms.  The arches between the kitchen and the Great Hall are from the 12th Century house.  Visitor can view the bedrooms with beamed ceilings, the wood panelled parlour and the kitchen with many unique historical features.  The hall is licenced to be a venue for weddings.

A celebration of the American Independence is held most years in early July is attended by representatives from the American armed forces.  There is frequently entertainment by re-enactment groups during these events. The Long Garden, which was donated to the National Trust by Mr and Mrs Mothersole, has been landscaped in the Jacobean style while other land that the National trust has since obtained has been recreated as a nuttery.