Cragside was the home of William George Armstrong who started his working life as a lawyer, but his real passion was for science and mechanics. Over time he was able use his interest in mechanics to start a new career in engineering. In 1847 he bought land at Elswick by the Tyne and established the partnership, W. G. Armstrong and company.
In 1863 Armstrong, having had no proper holiday for fifteen years because of the demands of his business, decided to take an angling trip to Rothbury. His sickly boyhood had been marred by a bad chest. ‘More than once,’ he remembered, ‘an apparently incurable cough was quickly removed by coming to Rothbury, and had it not been for its curative effect there would have been no Cragside’.*
The potential of a house in this setting grasped his imagination greatly and his passion in gardening can be seen throughout the grounds. His first success as an engineer was to apply hydraulics to lifting heavy weights in order to harness the power of water and he was also a gun-maker and builder of warships. Within Cragside you can see several of his engineering achievements including a hydraulic lift which lightened the load for the servants when carrying coal to the upstairs rooms.
Cragside was the first house to be lit by hydro-electric power by using water from the Black Burn and Nelly’s Moss to provide a head of water to a turbine in the Power House.
*Source – National Trust Guide book
A man well ahead of his time. Did you know that the house was one of the first in the world to be lit using incandescent lamps? Now, after all this time, they are to be banned by the eu!
He was such an amazing man, with so many ideas and achievements. But he remained so remarkably humble.
I knew it was the first house to have electric light but I hadn’t realised it was the technology that was now to be banned!!!
As you know, CherryPie, laziness is part of Omnium, too. Thus, it#s good to know you’ll forgive with a lenient smile, when I include your previous posts into this com(pli)ment: Chapeau.
As for Bernard’s final remark: The decision to ban the good old bulb seems *choose your adjective*, however the EU is just aping (hystery of) the Australian government. And Australia is still part of the Commonwealth, and its head is still a certain Queen who happens to be English, hm?
So glad you like the posts, there are still a few more scheduled on the subject
& now the good old bulb gives pause for thought…
& the Queen… does she really have a say in any of this?
Interesting coverage and interpretation, Cherie – and the pix are great, as always! This particular Armstrong was certainly a very interesting and thoughtful man.
Thank you
There is so much to write about him, I wouldn’t know where to start.
The aspect of that house is magnificent.
I am sure it is a place you would love to visit
Even today I was thinking of the things that I missed even though I spent the whole day there…
I am almost positive I could live there quite happily – the view alone is stunning.
Wonder if they could use another gardener….
It is a lovely place inside too and as you say, that view…
What a fabulous house! And glorious weather!
I booked the weather especially
Yes, a beautiful house.
I find the whole property quite wonderful