Manor with presidential links marks Fourth of July
BBCA manor house in an English town with ancestral links to George Washington is joining in America's Fourth of July celebrations.
Washington Old Hall, in Washington, near Sunderland, is opening its doors for free to host performances by a brass band, activities for school groups and a re-enactment of Dr Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speech.
This year's Independence Day also marks America's 250th birthday and 70 years since the National Trust took over the site on Wearside.
National Trust general manager Eric Wilton said the festivities were "very poignant this year", adding: "Old Hall holds a special place in the shared history of our two countries."
George Washington was the first president of the United States, with Independence Day marking the date in 1776 when Americans broke away from being ruled by the British.
Washington's ancestors purchased the land in northern England in the 12th Century and built a house in the place where Washington Old Hall sits, Wilton said.
"It was long before George Washington was born but that ancestral connection is what connects the two nations," he said.
Getty ImagesWilton said people in the area were "really, really proud of that connection".
As part of the celebrations, school children were invited to create their own flags which will be displayed in the hall.
They were also invited to come up with their own constitutions, imagining what they would like to see if they ran a country.
National TrustThe manor house has held Fourth of July celebrations with the community for decades, which include a pen pal project with Washington DC.
"I think it doesn't matter what the political situation or what's going on at the moment, actually the heart of the relationship is within the people," Wilton said.
