The British town celebrating the US's 250th anniversary - and its incredible connection to America's first president

A town in Britain has joined America in celebrating it's 250th anniversary due to its incredible connection to America's first president.

Washington Old Hall in Washington, Sunderland, has today hosted several free celebratory events in recognition of America's landmark.

The historic manor house which has ancestral ties to George Washington hosted brass band performances, activities for school groups and a re-enactment of Dr Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech.

The Wearside venue opened its doors without charge for the Fourth of July festivities, which mark the date in 1776 when the United States declared independence from British rule.

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Not only does this year celebrate United States' 250th anniversary of independence but also marks seven decades since the National Trust assumed control of the property.

Eric Wilton, the National Trust's general manager, said the festivities were "very poignant this year".

He said: "Old Hall holds a special place in the shared history of our two countries."

The local community takes considerable pride in the historic connection between the site and America's founding, according to Mr Wilton.

He indicated that residents in the area were "really, really proud of that connection".

The ancestral link between the site and George Washington's family stretches back approximately eight centuries.

In the 12th Century, Washington's forebears acquired the land in northern England and constructed a dwelling where the Old Hall now stands, according to Mr Wilton.

"It was long before George Washington was born but that ancestral connection is what connects the two nations," he said.

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The property predates the first US president by several hundred years, yet the family ties remain significant to both countries' shared heritage.

The celebrations featured activities where young pupils were asked to design their own flags for display within the hall.

Children also took part in an exercise imagining their own constitutions, considering what they would wish to see if they governed a nation.

The manor has been marking Independence Day with the local community for decades.

This long-standing tradition includes a pen pal programme linking the area with Washington DC.

Mr Wilton said: "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."

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