European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 14, 1980, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Coat of arms of Lawrence Washington Sulgrave Manor builder. George Washington did t sleep Here but. E Story and photos by Jim Arwine . Bureau chief yen though George Washington s direct ancestors played no major part in the history or eng land the country takes Pride in the family which produced America s first president. Visible evidence of Washington family history i England is a two Story Stone House called Sulgrave Manor. Located in Sulgrave Northamptonshire about eight Miles Northeast of Banbury Sugra Vianor is built by George Washington s ancestors. In the mid-16th Century. It s now jointly owned by thess. And Britain As a shrine of Friendship and Good will. The House was opened to the Public in 1921 and receives endowment funds from the National society of colonial Dames or America. The history of the Washington family does t Star with the Manor but can be traced to the 12th Century. The original name of Washington was Hartburn. William Helburn bought an estate at Wessington England in 1183 and soon after changed his name to William of Wessington. Over the years through various Spellings the name changed to Washington. It was his descendants who later occupied Sulgrave Manor. In 1539, Lawrence Washington a successful Wool merchant and two time mayor of Northampton Pur chased the Manor at Sulgrave when it was a Mere farm House. The size proved inadequate for a Man of his social Means and crowing family four sons and seven Daugh ters. He bum a larger Structure. Within 21 years of the original Purchase Sulgrave Manor the remaining parts of which Are now seen by visitors were completed according to h. Clifford Smith Sulgrave Manor historian. Four generations of Washington lived at Sulgrave Manor. The last to do so were Mary Washington and he husband Abel Makepeace. It was sold in 1659. George Washington was born in 1732 in Virginia the colonial slate to which his great Grandfather John Washington immigrated in 1656. Although George s fatherland Grandfather paid visits to England and possibly the old Home place at Sulgrave he never visited the coun try. David Robins resident director of the Manor for thir teen years conducts Tours. The soft spoken tour guide has heard All the questions to be asked and has Quick but polite answers. H mid there Are quilt a few Washington living i England. There Are no direct descend Ais from George because be bad no children but i know of a family of Washington who live Only about twelve Miles from  a tour of Sulgrave Manor usually starts in the great Hall and ends in the gardens. The great Hall a Large Barren room with a Stone floor and a Fine Oak beamed ceiling was the dining and social area of the House. When restoration work was being Donjon the House in the mid-19th Century several objects from the Washington family including a 1568 six Pence and a knife Case belonging to Lawrence Washington were  room contains a massive fireplace. Above it hangs the most valued object in the House an original por trait of George Washington by american Painter Gilbert Stuart who made a number of such paintings of Washington. The windows in the Hall contain reproductions in stained Glass of the coat of arms of the Washington family. On one Wall hangs a Small Cabinet which Origi Nally held items to be doled out to the poor. It no contains items once belonging to George and his wife Martha the director  room which delights Many visitors according to the director is the Kitchen.   was acquired from a Manor House at Weston Corbett in Hampshire. The fireplace in the Kitchen contains three ovens a charcoal Brazier a Brick lined oven for baking bread and an Iron lined oven for general  Are three bedrooms. One has a chair which belonged to George. The director said there were More bedrooms when the Washington occupied the House but the smaller rooms Are now used for other purposes. Two Small rooms Are used As museum areas. In the visitors View relics which once belonged to George Washington including his saddlebags a velvet coat his Oak liquor Chest and a lock of hair. In a Glass display Case Are other items of Washington family history including a Small piece of Elm tree which formerly stood in Cam Bridge mass. George Washington stood under the tree to take command of american to is on july 3,1775.near the Manor s Terrace the British Union Jack and the stars and stripes now Fly. Robins says Many British come to visit he Manor. He says they Don t consider George Washington a turncoat because the revolution was a Normal course of events. If Washington had not led the colonial cause someone else would have they feel. The Manor is open daily except wednesdays from 10 30 . To 5 30 . Admission is j1.10 for adults and.55 for children under 15 years of age. Sulgrave four generations of Washington wooden Model of a boy wearing dress of parlor with 1710 spinet painting of Georji 1 i Poge 14 the stars and stripes