Washington, Tyne and Wear
Encyclopedia
Washington is a town in the City of Sunderland
in Tyne and Wear
, England
. Historically
part of County Durham
, it joined a new county in 1974 with the creation of Tyne and Wear
. Washington is located geographically at an equal distance from the centres of Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland, hence it has close ties to all three cities.
Washington was designated a new town
in 1964 and expanded dramatically by the creation of new villages and the absorption of areas of Chester-le-Street
to house overspill population from surrounding cities.
At the 2001 census
, the town had a population of 53,388.
) is an Old English
name meaning "wheat sheaf
"; Swedish
Vasa
being a more famous cognate.
Due to evolution of English grammar
, modern English lacks the Germanic
grammatical features that Anglo-Saxon English was filled with. This adds an air of confusion for most in regards to the name Hwæsingatūn. It is essentially composed of three main elements (albeit grammatically altered elements):
The combined elements (with all correct conjugations in place) therefore create the name Hwæsingatūn with a full and technical meaning of "the estate of the descendants of Hwæsa".
However, there has been no evidence found of any chieftain/land owner/farmer in the area by the name of Hwæsa, although any such records from the time would likely have been long lost by now.
Although this is by no means the definite theory of origin, most scholars and historians (especially local) agree that it is the most likely.
wascan (said wosh-an) and the noun
dūn meaning "hill"; thus making the name Wascandūn, meaning "washing hill". This theory likely originates from the proximity between the river Wear
and the actual Anglo-Saxon hall of the time (most likely where Washington Old Hall
stands today).
This idea is not backed by linguistic evidence. Combining the two Old English words "wascan" and "dūn" would actually have meant "washed hill" and not "washing hill". Also, the Old English "dūn" meant a range of gently rolling hills, as evidenced by the naming of the North
and South Downs
in southern England.
may have been built by William de Hertburn, who moved to the area in 1183. As was the custom he took the name of his new estates, and became William de Wessyngton. By 1539 when the family moved to Sulgrave Manor in Northamptonshire
the spelling "Washington" had been adopted.
The present Hall is an early 17th century small English manor house
of sandstone
. Only the foundations and the arches between the Kitchen and the Great Hall remain of the original house.
William de Wessyngton was a forebear of George Washington
, the first President of the United States
, after whom the U.S. capital
and many other places in the United States are named. Though George Washington's great-grandfather John Washington
left for Virginia from Essex
, Washington Old Hall was the family home of George Washington's ancestors. The present structure incorporates small parts of the medieval home in which they lived. The American Independence Day
is marked each year by a ceremony at Washington Old Hall.
Washington's villages are called:
Mount Pleasant was also added to the list of numbered districts (14), despite being out of the Town "boundary line" of the River Wear and having a DH4 Postcode (Houghton le Spring) it does hold a Washington dialing code starting 0191 415, 416 and 417.
Built on industry, Washington contains several industrial estates, named after famous local engineers, such as Parsons, Armstrong, Stephenson, Crowther, Pattinson, Swan and Emerson.
A lot of the land which makes up the town was purchased from the Lambton family, Earls of Durham
who own the estate of the same name, which includes their ancestral home, Lambton Castle
.
In 1970, Washington hosted the English Schools Athletic Association (ESAA) annual National Championships, attended by the then Lord Lieutenant
of County Durham.
On 15 November 1977, the very first SavaCentre
hypermarket (a venture between Sainsbury's and British Home Stores) opened at The Gallaries.By 2005, however, it had been rebranded as a traditional Sainsbury's as the SavaCentre brand was phased out.
s and later railway lines to transport the coal. The wagonways took coal to staithes on the River Wear where it could be loaded onto barges to be taken to the ocean going vessels at Sunderland.
Washington was also involved in the chemical industry and the Washington Chemical Works was a major employer in the 19th century. This later became the Cape/Newalls Works producing insulation. The Pattinson Town area of Washington grew up around the chemical works. This area is now Pattinson industrial estate and Teal Farm housing estate.
Currently, Washington's main industries include textiles, electronics, car assembly, chemicals and electrical goods. The Nissan automotive plant
is a major employer. Nissan is the largest private-sector employer in the City of Sunderland.
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
, the American tyre production giant, opened a new factory in Washington in 1968. However, it closed on 5 July 2006 with the loss of 585 jobs.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/5149130.stm
nature reserve and the Washington 'F' Pit mining museum are within the town. The Washington Arts Centre is a converted farm building. The Centre includes an exhibition gallery, community theatre, artist studios and a recording studio. The North East Aircraft Museum
occupies part of the old RAF Usworth
base. The Nissan plant takes up much of the rest. The municipal airport
previously run from the site was closed to make way for the Nissan plant.
is a club based in the Northern League
Division Two which is the tenth level of the English game.
In 1991, a survey by the local newspaper, The Washington Star, found that loyalties were closely divided within Washington between Newcastle United and Sunderland AFC. However, the Tyneside club was most popular, by a small majority.
In 2005 Washington R.F.C was established. the club currently plays in the Durham and Northumberland division 3.
and Newcastle upon Tyne
, via Pelaw
Junction. The presence of the railway was a major factor in Nissan selecting the Washington site, but the passenger service was a victim of the Beeching Axe
less than two years later. Freight services continued until 1991 and the line is currently out of use, with all major infrastructure extant. Washington is therefore one of the largest towns in Britain without an operational railway station (see Dudley
, Newcastle under Lyme and Gosport
).
In June 2009, the Association of Train Operating Companies
called for funding for the reopening of this station as part of a £500m scheme to open 33 stations on 14 lines closed in the Beeching Axe
, including seven new parkway stations.
There is a major bus station
situated at The Galleries, and another at Concord in the north of Washington. The primary provider of transport (buses) in the area is Go North East
, with local services as well as connections to Newcastle upon Tyne
, Sunderland, and many other towns and cities in the region.
Major roads run through Washington: the A182
, the A1231
and the A195 all connect to the A1(M) motorway (which acts as the western boundary of Washington proper) or its feeder, the A194
. Washington Services is situated between Junctions 64 and 65 of the A1(M), and incorporate a Travelodge
.
City of Sunderland
The City of Sunderland is a local government district of Tyne and Wear, in North East England, with the status of a city and metropolitan borough...
in Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Historically
Historic counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
part of County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
, it joined a new county in 1974 with the creation of Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
. Washington is located geographically at an equal distance from the centres of Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland, hence it has close ties to all three cities.
Washington was designated a new town
New towns in the United Kingdom
Below is a list of some of the new towns in the United Kingdom created under the various New Town Acts of the 20th century. Some earlier towns were developed as Garden Cities or overspill estates early in the twentieth century. The New Towns proper were planned to disperse population following the...
in 1964 and expanded dramatically by the creation of new villages and the absorption of areas of Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street is a town in County Durham, England. It has a history going back to Roman times when it was called Concangis. The town is located south of Newcastle upon Tyne and west of Sunderland on the River Wear...
to house overspill population from surrounding cities.
At the 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, the town had a population of 53,388.
Toponymy
There are several proposed theories for how the name "Washington" came about. The three most discussed are detailed below. The titles of the three different theories, e.g. "Gaelic origin", are not formal titles, but merely used here to distinguish between them."Hwæsa origin"
The origins of the name Washington are not fully known. The most supported theory (especially amongst local historians) is that Washington is derived from Anglo-Saxon Hwæsingatūn, which roughly means "estate of the descendents (family) of Hwæsa". Hwæsa (usually rendered Wassa or Wossa in modern EnglishEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
) is an Old English
Old English language
Old English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
name meaning "wheat sheaf
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
"; Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
Vasa
Vasa
Vasa may refer to:* House of Vasa, a medieval Swedish noble family, the royal house of Sweden 1523–1654 and of Poland 1587–1668** Vasa , a Swedish warship that sank in 1628, since restored...
being a more famous cognate.
Due to evolution of English grammar
English grammar
English grammar is the body of rules that describe the structure of expressions in the English language. This includes the structure of words, phrases, clauses and sentences...
, modern English lacks the Germanic
Germanic languages
The Germanic languages constitute a sub-branch of the Indo-European language family. The common ancestor of all of the languages in this branch is called Proto-Germanic , which was spoken in approximately the mid-1st millennium BC in Iron Age northern Europe...
grammatical features that Anglo-Saxon English was filled with. This adds an air of confusion for most in regards to the name Hwæsingatūn. It is essentially composed of three main elements (albeit grammatically altered elements):
- "Hwæsa" - most likely the name of local Anglo-Saxon chieftain or farmer.
- "ing" - a Germanic component which has lost its original context in English: ing means roughly "[derived] of/from". It can still be seen in its original context in the word "halfling" meaning "that [derived] from an half". In the name Hwæsingatūn, "ing" is conjugated to "inga" in accordance with the genitive plural declensionGenitive caseIn grammar, genitive is the grammatical case that marks a noun as modifying another noun...
of OEOld English languageOld English or Anglo-Saxon is an early form of the English language that was spoken and written by the Anglo-Saxons and their descendants in parts of what are now England and southeastern Scotland between at least the mid-5th century and the mid-12th century...
. - "tūn" - root of the modern English "town", and is a cognate of GermanGerman languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
Zaun (fence), DutchDutch languageDutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
tuin (garden) and IcelandicIcelandic languageIcelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
tún (paddock). The word means "fenced off estate" or more accurately "estate with defined boundaries".
The combined elements (with all correct conjugations in place) therefore create the name Hwæsingatūn with a full and technical meaning of "the estate of the descendants of Hwæsa".
However, there has been no evidence found of any chieftain/land owner/farmer in the area by the name of Hwæsa, although any such records from the time would likely have been long lost by now.
Although this is by no means the definite theory of origin, most scholars and historians (especially local) agree that it is the most likely.
"Washing origin"
One of the more popular origin theories is that Washington is in fact derived from the Old English verbVerb
A verb, from the Latin verbum meaning word, is a word that in syntax conveys an action , or a state of being . In the usual description of English, the basic form, with or without the particle to, is the infinitive...
wascan (said wosh-an) and the noun
Noun
In linguistics, a noun is a member of a large, open lexical category whose members can occur as the main word in the subject of a clause, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition .Lexical categories are defined in terms of how their members combine with other kinds of...
dūn meaning "hill"; thus making the name Wascandūn, meaning "washing hill". This theory likely originates from the proximity between the river Wear
River Wear
The River Wear is located in North East England, rising in the Pennines and flowing eastwards, mostly through County Durham, to the North Sea at Sunderland.-Geology and history:...
and the actual Anglo-Saxon hall of the time (most likely where Washington Old Hall
Washington Old Hall
Washington Old Hall is a manor house located in the Washington area of Tyne and Wear. It lies in the centre of Washington, being surrounded by other villages....
stands today).
This idea is not backed by linguistic evidence. Combining the two Old English words "wascan" and "dūn" would actually have meant "washed hill" and not "washing hill". Also, the Old English "dūn" meant a range of gently rolling hills, as evidenced by the naming of the North
North Downs
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. The North Downs lie within two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty , the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs...
and South Downs
South Downs
The South Downs is a range of chalk hills that extends for about across the south-eastern coastal counties of England from the Itchen Valley of Hampshire in the west to Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, in the east. It is bounded on its northern side by a steep escarpment, from whose...
in southern England.
Old Hall
The Old HallWashington Old Hall
Washington Old Hall is a manor house located in the Washington area of Tyne and Wear. It lies in the centre of Washington, being surrounded by other villages....
may have been built by William de Hertburn, who moved to the area in 1183. As was the custom he took the name of his new estates, and became William de Wessyngton. By 1539 when the family moved to Sulgrave Manor in Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
the spelling "Washington" had been adopted.
The present Hall is an early 17th century small English manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
of sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
. Only the foundations and the arches between the Kitchen and the Great Hall remain of the original house.
George Washington connection
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, the first President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, after whom the U.S. capital
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and many other places in the United States are named. Though George Washington's great-grandfather John Washington
John Washington
John Washington was an English Virginia planter and politician. He was the immigrant ancestor and great-grandfather of George Washington, first president of the United States of America.-Early life and family:...
left for Virginia from Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, Washington Old Hall was the family home of George Washington's ancestors. The present structure incorporates small parts of the medieval home in which they lived. The American Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
is marked each year by a ceremony at Washington Old Hall.
Building the New Town
Washington's design was developed through the New Towns concept aiming to achieve sustainable socio-economic growth. The new town is divided into small self-sufficient "villages". It was originally also divided into the 15 original numbered districts, a fate which confused many visitors to the area. These numbered districts have gradually been removed as well as increased, and now road signs indicate the villages' names instead of district number.Washington's villages are called:
- Donwell
- Usworth (originally Great Usworth)
- ConcordConcord, SunderlandConcord is a village in Washington, a town in Tyne and Wear, England. Historically part of County Durham, it joined a new county in 1974 with the creation of Tyne and Wear...
- Sulgrave
- AlbanyAlbany, Tyne and WearAlbany is a suburb of Washington in the metropolitan borough of Sunderland in Tyne and Wear, England. It is in the north of the town. Nearby places are Washington Village, Blackfell and Donwell....
- Glebe
- Barmston
- Biddick
- Washington Village (the original village and location of the Old Hall)
- Columbia
- BlackfellBlackfellBlackfell is a village located in the new town of Washington, Tyne and Wear in England.Construction of the village began in the 1960s, and was completed over several years. The original prefabricated maisonettes in the east side of the village have now been replaced with new-build homes...
- OxcloseOxcloseOxclose is a village in Washington, Tyne and Wear. It is located between the A1231, A182 and A195 highways, close to Sunderland, and is well served by links from the A1 which passes within 1 mile of Oxclose's boundaries. Oxclose covers an area of approximately and boasts a population of around...
- Ayton
- LambtonLambton, Tyne and WearLambton is a village in Washington, Tyne and Wear, North East, England. It lies about northeast of Chester-le-Street. It is historically linked to the Lambton family, Lambton Castle and being the home of the Lambton Worm....
- FatfieldFatfieldFatfield is a village in Tyne and Wear, located in the City of Sunderland metropolitan borough, England. It formed part of the Washington new town....
- Harraton
- RickletonRickletonRickleton is a village which lies within the district of Washington, Tyne and Wear, England. It is located on the south side of Washington Town and borders Harraton village, Birtley and County Durham. The village mainly consists of housing...
Mount Pleasant was also added to the list of numbered districts (14), despite being out of the Town "boundary line" of the River Wear and having a DH4 Postcode (Houghton le Spring) it does hold a Washington dialing code starting 0191 415, 416 and 417.
Built on industry, Washington contains several industrial estates, named after famous local engineers, such as Parsons, Armstrong, Stephenson, Crowther, Pattinson, Swan and Emerson.
A lot of the land which makes up the town was purchased from the Lambton family, Earls of Durham
Earl of Durham
Earl of Durham is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1833 for the prominent Whig politician and colonial official John Lambton, 1st Baron Durham. Known as "Radical Jack", he played a leading role in the passing of the Great Reform Act of 1832...
who own the estate of the same name, which includes their ancestral home, Lambton Castle
Lambton Castle
Lambton Castle, located in County Durham, England, between the towns of Washington and Chester-le-Street, is a stately home, the ancestral seat of the Lambton family, the Earls of Durham...
.
In 1970, Washington hosted the English Schools Athletic Association (ESAA) annual National Championships, attended by the then Lord Lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
of County Durham.
On 15 November 1977, the very first SavaCentre
SavaCentre
Sainsbury’s SavaCentre was a chain of 13 hypermarkets and later a further seven discount supermarkets operated by Sainsbury's and BHS, then later by Sainsbury's alone, from 1977 until 2005. The stores have now been integrated into the Sainsbury's supermarket brand. The hypermarket stores ranged in...
hypermarket (a venture between Sainsbury's and British Home Stores) opened at The Gallaries.By 2005, however, it had been rebranded as a traditional Sainsbury's as the SavaCentre brand was phased out.
Industry
Historically, Washington was heavily involved in the coal industry with a number of pits. One of these in the Albany district of Washington is preserved as the 'F' Pit Museum (pits in Washington were named alphabetically e.g. the 'F' Pit). A number of the old communities of Washington grew up around the pits (e.g. the modern area of Usworth partly grew up around the Usworth mine and the area was known as Usworth Colliery (and still is to some of the older generation). In support of the mines there was a series of wagonwayWagonway
Wagonways consisted of the horses, equipment and tracks used for hauling wagons, which preceded steam powered railways. The terms "plateway", "tramway" and in someplaces, "dramway" are also found.- Early developments :...
s and later railway lines to transport the coal. The wagonways took coal to staithes on the River Wear where it could be loaded onto barges to be taken to the ocean going vessels at Sunderland.
Washington was also involved in the chemical industry and the Washington Chemical Works was a major employer in the 19th century. This later became the Cape/Newalls Works producing insulation. The Pattinson Town area of Washington grew up around the chemical works. This area is now Pattinson industrial estate and Teal Farm housing estate.
Currently, Washington's main industries include textiles, electronics, car assembly, chemicals and electrical goods. The Nissan automotive plant
Nissan Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd
Nissan Motor Manufacturing Ltd, or NMUK is a car manufacturing plant in Washington, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom. It is owned and operated by the European division of Japanese car manufacturer Nissan. It is the largest car plant in the United Kingdom, and the most productive in Europe...
is a major employer. Nissan is the largest private-sector employer in the City of Sunderland.
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
, the American tyre production giant, opened a new factory in Washington in 1968. However, it closed on 5 July 2006 with the loss of 585 jobs.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/wear/5149130.stm
Visitor attractions
The Wildfowl and Wetlands TrustWWT Washington
WWT Washington is a wetland reserve managed by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust at Washington, Tyne and Wear, North East England. The site is part of James Steel Park....
nature reserve and the Washington 'F' Pit mining museum are within the town. The Washington Arts Centre is a converted farm building. The Centre includes an exhibition gallery, community theatre, artist studios and a recording studio. The North East Aircraft Museum
North East Aircraft Museum
The North East Aircraft Museum is a volunteer-run aviation museum situated on the site of the former RAF Usworth/Sunderland Airport, between Washington and Sunderland, England. The museum has the largest aviation collection between Yorkshire and Scotland and houses over 30 aircraft and a wide...
occupies part of the old RAF Usworth
RAF Usworth
RAF Usworth was a Royal Air Force station near Sunderland. In 1958 the station was closed and the airfield became Sunderland Airport. Following the closure of the airport in 1984, the site has since been redeveloped as a manufacturing facility for Nissan cars.- Early history :In October 1916, the...
base. The Nissan plant takes up much of the rest. The municipal airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
previously run from the site was closed to make way for the Nissan plant.
Education
There are several primary, secondary schools and colleges in the villages of Washington.- Primary schools (alphabetical order)
- Albany Village Primary
- Barmston Village Primary
- Biddick Primary School
- Fatfield Primary School
- George Washington School (formerly High Usworth)
- Holley Park Primary School
- John F. Kennedy Primary School
- Lambton Primary School
- Oxclose Primary
- Rickleton Primary School
- St. Bedes Primary School
- St John Boste RC Primary School
- St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Primary School
- Usworth Colliery
- Usworth Grange
- Wessington Primary - (formerly Glebe Primary)
- Secondary schools
- Biddick School Sports College
- Washington School (formerly Washington Grammar School)
- St.Robert of Newminster (Roman Catholic Secondary School)
- Oxclose Community Secondary School
- Colleges
- Usworth Sixth FormUsworth Sixth FormUsworth Sixth Form was opened in September 2006 and built on the Usworth School site, in Washington, Tyne and Wear, Sunderland, England. Usworth Sixth Form is a partnership between City of Sunderland College and the three Washington secondary schools, which are:* Biddick School Sports College*...
- St. Robert of Newminster Sixth Form
- Usworth Sixth Form
Sport
Washington F.C.Washington F.C.
Washington F.C. is a football club based in Washington, Tyne and Wear, England. They were established in 1947 and joined the Wearside League in 1968...
is a club based in the Northern League
Northern League (football)
The Northern League is a football league in North East England for semi-professional and amateur teams. Having been founded in 1889, it is the oldest surviving football league in the world after the Football League....
Division Two which is the tenth level of the English game.
In 1991, a survey by the local newspaper, The Washington Star, found that loyalties were closely divided within Washington between Newcastle United and Sunderland AFC. However, the Tyneside club was most popular, by a small majority.
In 2005 Washington R.F.C was established. the club currently plays in the Durham and Northumberland division 3.
Transport
Washington is located on the mothballed Leamside Line and, until the mid-1960s, had regular passenger services to Sunderland, TeessideTeesside
Teesside is the name given to the conurbation in the north east of England made up of the towns of Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees, Redcar, Billingham and surrounding settlements near the River Tees. It was also the name of a local government district between 1968 and 1974—the County Borough of...
and Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, via Pelaw
Pelaw
Pelaw is a district that forms part of the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead in Tyne and Wear, in north-east England.It lies in between the older settlements of Heworth to the West and Bill Quay to the East with Wardley to the south and the southern bank of the river Tyne forming the northern...
Junction. The presence of the railway was a major factor in Nissan selecting the Washington site, but the passenger service was a victim of the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
less than two years later. Freight services continued until 1991 and the line is currently out of use, with all major infrastructure extant. Washington is therefore one of the largest towns in Britain without an operational railway station (see Dudley
Dudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
, Newcastle under Lyme and Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
).
In June 2009, the Association of Train Operating Companies
Association of Train Operating Companies
The Association of Train Operating Companies is a body which represents 24 train operating companies that provide passenger railway services on the privatised British railway system. It owns the National Rail brand. The Association is an unincorporated association owned by its members...
called for funding for the reopening of this station as part of a £500m scheme to open 33 stations on 14 lines closed in the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
, including seven new parkway stations.
There is a major bus station
Washington Galleries bus station
Washington Galleries bus station serves the town of Washington, Tyne and Wear, England. It was opened in October 2008 replacing the previous bus station and was re-built as part of the redevelopment of the town's Galleries shopping centre...
situated at The Galleries, and another at Concord in the north of Washington. The primary provider of transport (buses) in the area is Go North East
Go North East
Go North East is the largest operator of bus services in North East England, United Kingdom. Go North East operates services in the counties of Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland...
, with local services as well as connections to Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, Sunderland, and many other towns and cities in the region.
Major roads run through Washington: the A182
A182 road
The A182 begins on the A194 motorway between Gateshead and Washington. Though it is a non-primary route it takes the form of a fast grade-separated dual carriageway passing through the New town of Washington from the A194, before meeting at a roundabout with the A183 in Shiney Row.During this dual...
, the A1231
A1231 road
The A1231 road runs between Sunderland and Washington in Tyne and Wear, North East England. It is the main road joining Sunderland and Washington and is one of the main trunk roads leading in and out of Sunderland city centre...
and the A195 all connect to the A1(M) motorway (which acts as the western boundary of Washington proper) or its feeder, the A194
A194 road
The A194 road is a road in Tyne and Wear, England. It runs northeast from its start at junction 65 of the A1/A1 near Washington, and the first are motorway standard, designated the A194...
. Washington Services is situated between Junctions 64 and 65 of the A1(M), and incorporate a Travelodge
Travelodge UK
Travelodge Hotels Limited is a private company operating in the hotels and hospitality industry throughout the United Kingdom. Branded simply as Travelodge or Travelodge UK, it is the second largest in the budget hotel sector and third biggest hotel chain in the UK by number of bedrooms...
.
Notable people
- Gertrude BellGertrude BellGertrude Margaret Lowthian Bell, CBE was an English writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist who explored, mapped, and became highly influential to British imperial policy-making due to her extensive travels in Greater Syria, Mesopotamia, Asia Minor, and Arabia. Along...
was born at Washington Hall. - The musician Bryan FerryBryan FerryBryan Ferry, CBE is an English singer, musician, and songwriter. Ferry came to public prominence in the early 1970s as lead vocalist and principal songwriter with the band Roxy Music, who enjoyed a highly successful career with three number one albums and ten singles entering the top ten charts in...
(of Roxy MusicRoxy MusicRoxy Music was a British art rock band formed in 1971 by Bryan Ferry, who became the group's lead vocalist and chief songwriter, and bassist Graham Simpson. The other members are Phil Manzanera , Andy Mackay and Paul Thompson . Former members include Brian Eno , and Eddie Jobson...
fame) comes from Washington and attended Washington Grammar School (now Washington School (Comprehensive)). - Heather Mills Notable for marrying Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
, attended Usworth Grange Primary School and Usworth Comprehensive School. - The musician Toni HallidayToni HallidayAntoinette "Toni" Halliday is an English musician best known as the lead vocalist, lyricist, and occasional guitarist of the band Curve.-Early life and career:...
from the band CurveCurve (band)Curve was an English music group formed in 1990 chiefly around the collaboration of singer/songwriter Toni Halliday and bassist/guitarist/programmer Dean Garcia.-History:...
went to Washington School (Comprehensive). - Leeds UnitedLeeds United A.F.C.Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
and EnglandEngland national football teamThe England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
footballer Billy FurnessBilly FurnessWilliam Isaac Furness was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward for Leeds United and Norwich City in the 1930s, making one appearance for England in 1933.-Career:...
was born in Washington and started his football career playing for Usworth Colliery - Alex KapranosAlex KapranosAlexander Paul Kapranos Huntley , commonly known as Alex Kapranos, is a United Kingdom-based musician who is the lead singer and the guitarist of the Glasgow band Franz Ferdinand.-Early life:...
Lead singer of Franz Ferdinand was born in the town of Washington. - George ClarkeGeorge ClarkeGeorge Clarke , the son of Sir William Clarke, enrolled at Brasenose College, Oxford in 1676. He was elected a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford in 1680. He became Judge Advocate to the Army and was William III of England's Secretary at War from 1690 to 1704...
(Channel 4 presenter and architect) lived in Blackfell and went to Oxclose comprehensive school - Si King, one half of The Hairy BikersThe Hairy BikersDavid Myers and Simon "Si" King , collectively known as The Hairy Bikers, are British television presenters who have fronted the series The Hairy Bikers' Cookbook, The Hairy Bikers Ride Again, The Hairy Bakers, The Hairy Bikers' Food Tour of Britain and The Hairy Bikers Mums Know...
attended St Robert of Newminster Catholic School.