Cragside

 

Wednesday 14th June 2023

Today we set off from our parkup at Fontburn Reservoir, it was a great place to spend the night, just a few fisherman coming and going until dusk then arriving again at dawn for another try at catching a tiddler.

We set off for the nearby National Trust site at Cragside.

This was the first dwelling in the world to be lit by hydro-electricity.

William Armstrong was the brains behind developing the technology and he was the toast of Victorian society for his technological, industrial, engineering and commercial endeavors.

He was also a major arms dealer in heavy military hardware including battle ships and was regarded as the inventor of modern artillaty.

The site is very large and is an outstanding place to visit.

The gardens are impressive, there a formal garden, interesting rock garden on a scale I've never seen before. A pinetum, river gorge, labyrinth, and numerous streams and lakes.

Additionally there the buildings he used to practice his theories like the pump house and power house.

The rock gardens are ablaze with  rhododendrons and azaleas of all types and are in full bloom at the moment and were quite stunning, although they were probably lacking a little water at the moment.

Talking to one of the gardeners in the formal gardens, she said she was planting in dust the ground was so dry.

The house interior is also very interesting with lots of rooms open for viewing and contained interesting furnishings.

The Clock Tower mechanism has recently been overhauled as featured in the recently shown documentary of NT sites on the BBC.

Sadly it didn't seem to be chiming which was the purpose of the overhaul. 

Apparently the mechanism is quite temperamental and needs frequent maintenance.

Overall I think this is one of best National Trust properties I've been to.

We spent all day here and there was still plenty we didn't see.

I think I could spend three days here.

Tonight were on a pub stop carpark in a nice little Northumberland village called Lowick.

Some views of Cragside and the gardens . . . . .