There was mention of a church at Washington in a 1112 charter by Bishop Flambard of Durham and in the Boldon Buke (1183 survey of land belonging to the Bishop of Durham, Hugh du Puiset), and its C12 font survives (used as a cattle trough in 1965). Margot Johnson offers an ingenious account of the development of the medieval church, based on earlier descriptions and plans. She suggests that, when complete, it consisted of a 4-bay aisled nave, an aisleless chancel, three chantry chapels (Washington; ? De Biddick in the rib-vaulted "vestry" described by Hutchinson), and a west tower. The church was of square plan, not cruciform. In 1832, because it was too small and unsafe (apparently due to instability caused by the vaults below containing the Washington family's remains), the medieval church was demolished and replaced by Holy Trinity church (HER 7044). Dated C12th.

Name derives from 'Wessington'. May mean 'the place where Wassa's people live' or it could refer to 'Wessing' meaning soaking in water, implying marshy land. Ton means settlement or farmstead, but it may be a derivation of 'tor' meaning 'holy hill'. It has been suggested that Holy Trinity Church (HER 353 and 7044) was on a holy hill. Washington appears in an Anglo Saxon charter which states that King Edgar granted it to the monks of Thorney Abbey, Cambridgeshire, in AD 973. In the 11th century the population of Washington was reduced during the Harrying of the North by William the Conqueror's army. The lands were given to the Bishop of Durham. Washington and its church are referred to in an 1112 charter by Bishop Flambard of Durham. In the Boldon Buke (1183 survey of land belonging to the Bishop of Durham, Hugh du Puiset) ) the vill, but not the church or its lands, was held by William de Hertburne (exchanged with Bishop de Puiset for Hartburn near Stockton). He subsequently took the name Wessington (later Washington). William Wessington built a manor house. Temp. Hatfield's Survey Wm of Washington kt. held the manor and vill, in C15 the owners were the Blaykestons, in the 17th century Bishop James, and in 18th century the Bracks. There is no evidence for its size in the medieval period, and in the late 18th century Hutchinson describes it as "inconsiderable and scattered on the skirts of the brook". Roberts and Austin type 2, - regular two-row plan with green. This is not a wholly satisfactory description - the north row is there, but church in a circular churchyard and gardens of hall occupy south side of a space which, in C19, was a "sand hole". At that time the east end was closed off, and a road to the west left the north-south route west of the church. The village expanded in the 20th century with the opening of Washington Glebe Colliery in 1901. Terraced housing was built on Spout Lane. Dated C12th.

"A denarius of Vespasian (69-79 A.D.) found in the garden of 48 Berwick Avenue, Town End Farm...in 1963". Dated C1.

The inclusion of this well, and the chapel (349), on the HER depends solely on a single reference in an "antient deed" in the possession of John Hodgson, and cited by him in a footnote. "An antient deed...by which William Basset conveyed to John de Staindrop, called the Coroner, a messuage and lands in Offerton, in the county of Durham, mentions 'the chapel of the blessed Cuthbert in Vfferton', and 'the well of St. Cuthbert' in that village". As the OS point out, there is no trace on the ground and no local tradition.

The inclusion of this chapel, and the well (350), on the HER depends solely on a single reference in an "antient deed" in the possession of John Hodgson, and cited by him in a footnote. "An antient deed...by which William Basset conveyed to John de Staindrop, called the Coroner, a messuage and lands in Offerton, in the county of Durham, mentions 'the chapel of the blessed Cuthbert in Vfferton', and 'the well of St. Cuthbert' in that village". As the OS point out, there is no trace on the ground and no local tradition.

The earliest reference seems to be c. 930, when King Athelstan gave "South Wearmouth" and its appendages, which included "Ufferton", to the see of Durham. Thereafter there is remarkably little information. Patrick of Ufferton is mentioned in 1172; in 1327 John de Denum died seised of the vill which he held from John of Hadham and William de Yeland; and it subsequently passed to the Strothers. In 18th century "the mansion house", presumably Offerton Hall, at the west end of the village, was the seat of Francis Middleton. Roberts and Austin type 6, i.e. "irregular two-row plan, without a green", which has shrunk. O.S. suggest there is evidence for depopulation on RAF APs. Today there are remains of 18th century-19 farms, though horribly adapted to new uses, plus a lot of modern infilling.
Whellan (1856) states that the township of Offerton had a population of 77 in 1801; 175 in 1811; 198 in 1821; 190 in 1831, 200 in 1841 and 218 in 1851. The Earl of Durham were the principal landowners and possessor of the manorial rights and privileges. Dated C10th.

An Anglo-Saxon small-long brooch. Bronze; length 61 mm; complete except for iron pin. Headplate is trapezoidal with rounded corners and concave sides. On its face incised lines create a false panel effect, bordered on both sides by punched circles and dots. Beneath the ridged bow a combination of facets and ribbed decoration leads to a triangular foot, on the edges of which are more circles and dots.

A log-boat was found in the River Wear near Hylton in 1880. "Length 3.66 to 3.96 m. Rectangular transverse section. The stern is rectangular in plan and elevation, the bow is rounded. Two, possibly three, horizontal holes just below the sheer, interpreted by McGrail as strengthening for the thwart, and/ or, for connecting two boats. Has not survived".
NB Miket gives a grid ref of NZ3456, but for the purposes of the HER a refined location between Hylton and HER340 has been used.

"Smooth discoloured buff stone. Length 156 mm, max width 68 mm, max thickness 38 mm. Scarred and fractured on sides and butt end. The upper and lower edges are faceted. Found in ploughing c. 1960s". Manor House Farm is the new name for the original site of Little Usworth village, and the grid ref is only for this.

This entry depends on Gibbs who wrote: "North Hylton (2) Hylton Grange garden Artifacts (3) Fields adjoining Artifacts" Miket took this to mean fields adjoining Hylton Grange, and Young fields adjoining North Hylton, which would put the findspot on the next map. As the objects do not appear to exist, and certainly haven't been seen by either of these authors, it really doesn't matter except perhaps as an indication of where further field-walking might be useful. Young suggests they were perhaps Mesolithic, and are so entered here.