The Washington Connection

Sitting at The Bridge House and sipping a beer together with our English friends that we met in Egypt, in 2006. We are in the city of Thrapston, Northhamptonshire, England. Thrapston is located on the eastern bank of the River Nene and I can see the medieval ninearch bridge leading over to the twin village, Islip on the western bank of the River Nene.

The midieval ninearch bridge, photo taken from The Wollpack Inn, located in Islip on the western banks of River Nene.

Thrapston is a city with a long history, from BC through Roman, Anlosaxon, Vikings, Normans until today.
The town has links to the U.S. first president George Washington but also the origin of the American flag.

While I take a few beers with my English hosts, I listen keenly to the oral history of the place I'm at, yes I find it so interesting that I must try to search further. As Castle Playground, indicating that this has been a casle, who built and when?
 
The village of Islip is special not only for its direct link to Islip Suffolk County on Long Island New York in the United States.
 
But back to The Washington Connection.

First house on the left The Montagu house were Sir John Washington the brother of the great grandfather of George Washinton 1:st president of USA, lived. The name of the road is Chancery Lane. (behinde the tree at the en of the street is the location of Casle playground, more about that in an another blog with vikings and normand knights) 

Sir John Washington is buried in the 15th century chuch of Saint Nicholas in Islip. While his wife is buried in St James church, Thrapston. Why? I dont know at this point.


And now for what is considered to be the origin of "Stars and Stripes", the American flag.

The Washington family arms shown in the picture below is considered to be the origin found in the church in Thrapston Northhamtonshire UK.

My own Washington Connection besides the visit to Northhamponshire consists of visiting George Washington's very beautifully situated home in Mont Vernon, Virgina, 1969