View source for Washington Old Hall

{{Short description|Manor house associated with the family of George Washington, Tyne & Wear, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Washington Old Hall
| image = Washington Hall - panoramio (3).jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Main entrance of the Washington Old Hall
| map_type = Tyne and Wear
| map_caption = Location in Tyne and Wear
| status = Used as a museum
| address = The Avenue, Washington Village
| location_town = [[Washington, Tyne and Wear]]
| location_country = England
| coordinates = {{Coord|54|54|09.86|N|1|30|59.17|W|region:GB-ENG_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| construction_start_date = {{Circa}} 1183
| completion_date = 17th century
| client = William de Hertburn
| owner = [[National Trust]]
| material = [[Rock (geology)|Stone]]
| website = {{URL|nationaltrust.org.uk/Washington-Old-Hall/|Washington Old Hall}}
}}
'''Washington Old Hall''' is a historic [[manor house]] in [[Washington, Tyne and Wear]], England. It lies in the centre of Washington, being surrounded by other villages. The building was the ancestral home of the [[Washington family|family]] of [[George Washington]] (1732–1799), the first [[president of the United States]].

==History==
[[File:WASHINGTON OLD HALL INTERIOR, TYNE AND WEAR, ENGLAND.jpg|thumb|left|Interior of the Washington Old Hall|241x241px]]
[[William de Hertburn|William]] de [[Hartburn, County Durham|Hertburne]] (originally William Bayard),<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wells|first=William C.|date=1913|title=A Washington Token|url=https://www.britnumsoc.org/publications/Digital%20BNJ/pdfs/1913_BNJ_10_21.pdf|journal=British Numismatic Journal|series=2|publisher=British Numismatic Society|volume=10|page=326}}</ref> an ancestor of George Washington, assumed tenancy of the Wessyngtonlands from the [[Bishop of Durham]] in the late 12th century. Soon after, he changed his name to William de Wessyngton (later Washington).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newcastlegateshead.com/things-to-do/washington-old-hall-p23531|title=Washington Old Hall|publisher=Newcastle Gateshead|access-date=4 April 2015}}</ref> In the early 15th century Sir William Mallory married Dionysia Tempest, the last Wessyngton heir at the Hall.  Dionysia was daughter of Sir William Tempest and his cousin, Eleanor Wessyngton. In 1613, Sir John Mallory (a descendant of Sir William Mallory and Dionysia Tempest) and Anna Eure, shareholders in the [[Virginia Company]], moved south to [[Sulgrave Manor]] in Northamptonshire, and the manor was sold to the Bishop of Durham.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sunderlandecho.com/heritage-and-retro/retro/story-washington-old-halls-thousand-year-history-and-its-american-connection-2905690|title=The story of Washington Old Hall's thousand year history – and its American connection|date=6 July 2020|publisher=Sunderland Echo|access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref>

The Hall continued to be used as a residence until the 19th century, when it became [[tenement]] flats and gradually fell into disrepair. In 1936 the building was declared unfit for human habitation, and was rescued from demolition by Fred Hill, a local teacher, who created what is now the "Friends of the Old Hall" to press for restoration of the building. Restoration began in 1937.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Washington Old Hall, Sunderland|num=1354971|access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref> Preservation work stopped during [[World War II]], but was completed in 1955. The building was opened by the American Ambassador, [[Winthrop W. Aldrich]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wear/content/articles/2006/05/23/washington_old_hall_feature.shtml|title=Washington Old Hall|publisher=BBC|access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref> In 1957, the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]] assumed responsibility for the building.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/Public/Editable/Themes/Lifelong-Learning/Leaflets/Washington%20Old%20Hall.pdf |title=Sunderland City Council information leaflet |access-date=19 February 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927201653/http://www.sunderland.gov.uk/Public/Editable/Themes/Lifelong-Learning/Leaflets/Washington%20Old%20Hall.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

As a result of these historic ties, in 2007, [[Washington, D.C.]], and the [[City of Sunderland]] announced a "friendship agreement," hoping to create cultural and economic ties with one another.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/wear/6999728.stm|title=Students seal 'friendship' pact|date=17 September 2007|publisher=BBC|access-date=3 December 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite magazine |last=Alexander |first=Lawrence |date=September 2021 |title=Washington Old Hall |department=Hidden Gems |magazine=Britain |volume=89 |number=4 |location=London |publisher=The Chelsea Magazine Company |page=82 |issn=1757-9732}}
* Margot Johnson. "Washington Old Hall" in ''Durham: Historic and University City and surrounding area''. Sixth Edition. Turnstone Ventures. 1992. {{ISBN|094610509X}}. Page 40.

==External links==
<!--
  ===============================================================================
   WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A COLLECTION OF LINKS. Only a limited number of new links 
   should be added to this article. PLEASE DO NOT ADD external links to sites with
   information already in the article or in its sources.

   See [[Wikipedia:External links]] and [[Wikipedia:Spam]] for further details
  ===============================================================================
-->
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Official website}}
<!-- EDITORS NOTE: Please follow the [[WP:EL]] guideline where possible and consider discussing on the talk page. Thank you. -->

{{Washington family}}
{{Listed buildings in the City of Sunderland}}
{{City of Sunderland}}
{{Portal bar|Architecture|England|Middle Ages|Museums}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1180s establishments in England]]
[[Category:Grade I listed buildings in Tyne and Wear]]
[[Category:Historic house museums in Tyne and Wear]]
[[Category:Houses completed in the 17th century]]
[[Category:Manor houses in England]]
[[Category:Museums in the City of Sunderland]]
[[Category:National Trust properties in Tyne and Wear]]
[[Category:Hall houses]]
[[Category:Rebuilt buildings and structures in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Stone houses]]
[[Category:Washington family residences]]
[[Category:Washington, Tyne and Wear]]