On our way back from our holiday at the caravan a few weeks ago we decided to make a stop off at Washington Old Hall; another National Trust site which we’d not yet visited. Although it’s the second closest National Trust site to where we live, about 20mins in the car, we’d just never made the time to explore it yet, and so I was eager to finally go and make the most of our National Trust passes before they run out in May.
Having checked out of the caravan at 10am, we arrived at around 10.50am and found somewhere to park along the side of the road (which was free) as there didn’t seem to be any parking onsite.
Note: Being a weekday and not the best weather when we went, we didn’t struggle to acquire a parking spot close by, however, I’m not sure what the parking situation would be like on a busy sunny day.
Washington Old Hall is a relatively small yet picturesque National Trust site that sits in the heart of historic Washington village. The stone manor house and gardens feature parts of the original medieval home of George Washington’s direct ancestors, from where the family took their surname of ‘Washington’.
We must have come on one of the coldest days as snowflakes danced from the sky I wrapped myself up in my big scarf. The first signs of spring were slowly showing their face though as snowdrops were out in abundance next to daffodils still shrouded in their protective layers.
Exploring the Gardens didn’t take too long as in my opinion there wasn’t really too much to see this time of year (it would be interesting to see what is in bloom later on in the year). Saying that I do think that with the big field at the back, I can imagine it’s a great place for kids to have a run around on a slightly warmer day.
Dogs are welcome in the gardens, but not in the manor house, and so we took it in turns to have a quick look around, albeit a short one, as we didn’t want to leave the other waiting with Maya in the freezing cold outside for too long.
The manor house is set up to reflect gentry life following the turbulence of the English Civil War and incorporates parts of the original medieval home of George Washington’s direct ancestors. The staff are attentive, letting you explore in peace or at hand to tell you more about the history of the place.
Being a small enough exhibit means you can take your time to read all the information given without feeling overwhelmed or it taking too long. It’s a shame I only had time for a whistlestop tour on this visit, but perhaps I’ll get another chance when the weather is warmer to read all the information boards and learn more.
On our way out, near the entrance, the friends of Washington Old Hall also run a mini second hand book & antiques shop and although tiny, they allow dogs in, so we decided to have a quick nosy. There’s not much admittedly but I did find a cute little vase and bought one of their mystery books*. At only 50p a book I though it was a nice way to support them.
*the mystery book I ended up picking was Greyfriars Bobby. Although I loosely know the story from having seen a movie as a kid, it’s a classic I’ve not read before, so perhaps I’ll make time for it this year.
All in all we enjoyed our little mooch around Washington Old Hall and it makes for a nice half day trip I would say – especially when the weather is warmer and you can enjoy being outside a little more.
Have you visited Washington Old Hall before? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Opening Times:
Thursday – Monday | 10am – 5pm
Admission:
| Ticket type | With Gift Aid | Without Gift Aid |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (18+) | £7.20 | £6.50 |
| Child (5-17) under 5s free | £3.60 | £3.25 |
| Family (2 Adults and up to 3 children) | £17.90 | £16.25 |
| Family (1 Adult and up to 3 children) | £10.80 | £9.75 |
Facilities:
There is no cafe on site, but there are toilets, a picnic area and a small play ground for young children.
simplycarinaxo.co.uk 