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A Reflection on Washington: A Model of Modernity in the 1960s

I grew up in Sunderland during the 1970s, where my parents resided in a modest flat within a weathered Victorian terrace, just a stone’s throw from Sunderland General Hospital. This was an era marked by the decline of once-thriving industries, as shipyards and coal mines shut down, leaving the town grappling with economic challenges.

Less than ten miles from Sunderland, nestled along the River Wear, lies the village of Washington. This location is noteworthy as the ancestral home of the Washington family, from whom George Washington, the first president of the United States, is descended. This connection attracted prominent figures, including Muhammad Ali in the 1970s and President Jimmy Carter in 1977, who famously planted a tree on the village green.

In 1964, the Washington Development Corporation was established to create Washington New Town, aiming to attract families from the Victorian surrounding areas to a modern community. The initiative promised advanced living conditions, with homes featuring central heating and modern amenities like indoor toilets—revolutionary at the time. Residents were thrilled to discover these new living standards.

Shortly after my birth, my family made the significant move to Washington, a shift that felt monumental since our roots had long been planted in Sunderland. We settled into a spacious two-story home, complete with a front and back garden, perfectly situated in a pedestrian-friendly square that provided a safe environment for children to play.

The energy and enthusiasm in this new setting were palpable. Our neighborhood buzzed with young families, and children filled the streets from dawn until dusk. My siblings and I walked to our pristine new schools—barely 15 minutes away with no roads to cross, adding to the sense of safety. There wasn’t a child among us who arrived at school by car, fostering a strong sense of community.

Washington boasted a variety of local amenities, including a newsagent, greengrocer, convenience store, post office, and a village hall that became the hub for our youth club activities. The Honest Boy pub and the Whitehouse club provided social spaces, while the Galleries shopping center, a pioneering American-style mall, was where I made my first record purchase at the tender age of five.

The landscape was strikingly vibrant, with trees, plants, and shrubs meticulously planned to enhance the area’s beauty. The foresight of the landscape architects has left the region even greener today, with vast green spaces where we once played countless hours of football. This sense of nature and community truly felt like a childhood paradise.

For the planners and designers, this new town was envisioned as an idealistic retreat, and for many including my family, it was indeed a significant dwelling improvement over previous homes. Nostalgia often colors these memories, but it’s clear that Washington exceeded expectations.

I hold deep respect for those individuals—talented architects, designers, and planners—who turned this ambitious concept into a reality. The rapid construction of schools, shops, roads, healthcare facilities, and other community structures was an impressive feat. It blended the old with the new, and transformed the area in an unprecedented manner.

This month marks the 50th anniversary of our shopping center and celebrates the 60th anniversary of Washington’s designation as a new town.

Though Washington has faced its share of critics over the decades—some claim the estates resemble one another—such critiques often originate from those who lack a genuine understanding of life in the town. Personally, Washington has profoundly influenced who I am today—as an individual and as an architect. The innovative spirit of the 1960s resonates within me, and I remain a proud advocate for the new towns envisioned by the current Labour government.

Source
www.theguardian.com