In this episode, we explore the story of the iconic Curly Wurly Bridge and its role in shaping the transformation of Fatfield. Featuring A Spanish Village, written and performed by David Brewis, this episode captures the historical and cultural significance of this beloved landmark.

Guests:

Washington Community Podcasting Group, Roger Morris (Fatfield Resident), Mike Laws, Linda Laws, Ged Parker (Washington Development Corporation), Washington Newtown Architects, David Robson, Ricard Robinson, Ursula Robson, Martin Stephenson, Peter McAdam, Liz Greener, April Welby.

Music and Production

• Produced by: Grace Stubbings & the Washington Community Podcasting Group
• Music by: David Brewis & Paige Temperley
• Executive Producers: Caroline Mitchell & Jude Murphy

About the Project

This episode was developed in collaboration with:

• Washington Heritage Partnership
• Sunderland City Council’s Washington Area Committee
• Sunderland Culture at The Arts Centre Washington
• Baseline Shift
• We Make Culture

Supported by:

• The University of Sunderland
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for making this project possible.

In this episode, we delve into local legends, spine-chilling ghost stories, and the haunting tales of women accused of witchcraft in Washington’s history. Featuring Lady of the Biddick House, written and performed by Paige Temperley, this episode brings the past to life with captivating stories and performances.

Guests:

Washington Community Podcasting Group, Roseanna Erskine, Paige Temperley, Gloria Finnigan, Jim Metcalfe, Liz Greener, Anderson.

Music and Production

• Produced by: Grace Stubbings & the Washington Community Podcasting Group
• Music by: David Brewis & Paige Temperley
• Executive Producers: Caroline Mitchell & Jude Murphy

About the Project

This episode was developed in collaboration with:

• Washington Heritage Partnership
• Sunderland City Council’s Washington Area Committee
• Sunderland Culture at The Arts Centre Washington
• Baseline Shift
• We Make Culture

Supported by:

• The University of Sunderland
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for making this project possible.

In this episode, we take a nostalgic journey back to 1977, when US President Jimmy Carter visited Washington Village. Howay Jimmy is a heartfelt reflection on this historic event, written and performed by Paige Temperley, with stories and insights from members of the Washington community.

Guests:

Washington Community Podcasting Group, Laurie Endean-Olsen, David Warden, Olive Metcalfe, Jim Metcalfe, City Swing, April Welby, Mike Laws, Barbara Fiddy, Shaun Hair.

Music and Production

• Produced by: Grace Stubbings & the Washington Community Podcasting Group
• Music by: David Brewis & Paige Temperley
• Executive Producers: Caroline Mitchell & Jude Murphy

About the Project

This episode was developed in collaboration with:

• Washington Heritage Partnership
• Sunderland City Council’s Washington Area Committee
• Sunderland Culture at The Arts Centre Washington
• Baseline Shift
• We Make Culture

Supported by:

• The University of Sunderland
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for making this project possible.

In this episode, we explore The Underpasses—examining the ideal of safe routes to school and the reality of 'betwixt and between' spaces. This episode brings together fascinating stories and creative expressions from Washington, brought to life by the community and special guests. It featurse Underpass, a ballad written and performed by David Brewis.

Guests:

Washington Community Podcasting Group, Dr. Ian Cook, Northumbria University, Professor Caroline Mitchell, University of Sunderland, Jude Murphy, Tommy Anderson, Chris Morland, Claire Kingston, Jamie Murray, Ged Parker (Washington History Society), Roger Morris, Jennifer Tindall, Mike Clay.

Music and Production

• Produced by: Grace Stubbings & the Washington Community Podcasting Group
• Music by: David Brewis & Paige Temperley
• Executive Producers: Caroline Mitchell & Jude Murphy

About the Project

This episode was developed in collaboration with:

• Washington Heritage Partnership
• Sunderland City Council’s Washington Area Committee
• Sunderland Culture at The Arts Centre Washington
• Baseline Shift
• We Make Culture

Supported by:

• The University of Sunderland
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for making this project possible.

In this episode, we dive into Washington's fascinating roads, roundabouts, and its controversial district numbering system. We also explore the community stories and creativity behind Town of Roundabouts, written and performed by Paige Temperley.

Guests:

Washington Community Podcasting Group, Brenda Naisby, Tony Erskine (Artist for Washington Development Corporation), Ian Murray, Roseanna Erskine, Sarah Murray, Doug Walker, Bob Hope, Kim Hunter, Gloria Finnigan, Thomas Finnigan, Olive Metcalfe, Ellaine Davidson.

Music and Production

• Produced by: Grace Stubbings & the Washington Community Podcasting Group
• Music by: David Brewis & Paige Temperley
• Excutive producers: Caroline Mitchell and Jude Murphy

This episode was developed in collaboration with:

• Washington Heritage Partnership
• Sunderland City Council’s Washington Area Committee
• Sunderland Culture at The Arts Centre Washington
• Baseline Shift
• We Make Culture

Supported by:

• The University of Sunderland
• The National Lottery Heritage Fund

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Lottery players for making this project possible.

Listen to our trailer to get a feel for our new podcast.

‘The Ballad of the Crocodile and the Underpass' - Stories of Washington New Town’, is a podcast ballad partnership between Washington Heritage Partnership, We Make Culture, University of Sunderland, Baseline Shift and Arts Centre Washington. Since April 2024 this partnership, podcaster and musician Grace Stubbings and the Washington community podcasting group have been working with people and organisations in Washington to collect and share experiences of life in a new town.

Musicians Paige Temperley and David Brewis (Field Music) have been working with community members and young people at Arts Centre Washington to turn stories of Washington into songs.

The songs, interviews, sounds and archive recordings have been woven together to create unique ballad podcasts. The group have been influenced by the radio ballad work of Charles Parker, Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger who made radio ballads about working class stories in the 1950s and '60s for the BBC.

You can listen to Episode 1 immediately after this trailer.

Subscribe now to hear episodes 2-5, which will be released in November 2024.