Washington Old Hall

#WashintonOldHall #GeorgeWashinton #AmericanIndepenanceDay

A special treat for you on the 247th anniversary of American Independence Day this July 4th 2023.

Thank you to Anna for kindly showing us around Washington Old Hall, the ancestral home of George Washington and allowing me to film her tour.

Considered a ‘founding father’ of the United States, the country’s first president, George Washington, is often thought of as all-American. However, his roots start here, at Washington Old Hall. Discover the history of this house and its journey through time, including its earliest years, what it tells us about 17th century life and its use in the 20th century.

From Wessington to Washington
The origins of the first President of the United States, George Washington, are right here in Washington village.

In the ancient County Palatine of Durham, and dating back to Anglo-Saxon times, the name has variously been spelt Wessynton, Whessingtun and Wassington.

It’s now commonly known and spelt as Washington – even if some locals pronounce it Weshintun.

The origins of the 'Washington' name

Around 1180, William de Hertburn, a tenant of the Bishop of Durham Hugh le Puiset, exchanged his holding near Stockton for that of Washington.

The bishop was reorganising his estates and needed Hertburn to consolidate his lands in that part of the Bishopric, or district.

Washington, other than for the land belonging to the church, was untenanted and, therefore, available to William. With Washington now his new home and as custom dictated, William assumed 'de Wessyngton' as his new surname.

Building Washington Old Hall

Washington Old Hall incorporates a large portion of a medieval manor which was home to the Washington family. Whether William built himself a new manor house or moved into an existing one is unknown.

The earliest parts of this building date to the mid-13th century, a time when there was relative peace on the Anglo-Scottish border and funds were available from the marriages of successive Washingtons to wealthy widows.

Parts of the original building remain, the most obvious being the pointed arches at the west end of the Great Hall which could have been part of a screen passage arrangement connecting the hall with the kitchens

This video is published with kind permission from The National Trust

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/washington-old-hall/history-of-washington-old-hall