A sword-fighting adventure, a whirlwind tour of British history, and a summer of American-inspired games are all on the programme as Washington Old Hall launches its 2026 summer events season. The National Trust property, best known as the ancestral home of George Washington’s family, has packed the weeks ahead with outdoor theatre, live music, a nature photography exhibition, and free children’s activities.
The first outdoor performance comes from Illyria, who stage The Three Musketeers in the grounds on 17 June from 7pm to 9.15pm. Later in the summer, on 16 August, The Pantaloons return with The (almost) Complete History of Britain, running from 7pm to 9pm. Every Monday from 6 July through 5 October, local musicians will play between 11am and 2pm. From 27 June until 20 September, the hall hosts the North East Festival of Blossom photography exhibition, titled “Blossom Through a Wearside Lens,” which celebrates Sunderland’s natural beauty and is open daily from 11am to 4pm.
During the school holidays, between 23 July and 31 August, the Summer of Play activities take over from 11am to 4pm with US-inspired games designed for children – a nod to the hall’s historic American connection. That link was firmly cemented in 1977 when President Jimmy Carter visited the property, decades after it was rescued from demolition. The building, which dates to the early 12th century as Wessyngton Manor, was condemned as unsafe in 1932 and faced being pulled down until local headmaster Frederick Hill and the Washington Old Hall Preservation Committee bought it in 1937. Restoration was delayed by the Second World War, but the hall finally opened on 28 September 1955 and was transferred to the National Trust the following year. Hill, who spearheaded the campaign, was too ill to attend the opening and died months later.
Today the manor house stands with its gardens and adjoining nuttery, described by its custodians as an oasis for wildlife and people. The full events schedule is available on the National Trust’s Washington Old Hall pages.
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