| Event type: | Coach trip |
| Date: | 7th June 2024 |
| Time: | 9:00 am - 5:00 pm |
| Group: | Garden |
| Organiser: | |
| Cost: | Admission fee and return coach fare at cost |
| Booking: | Note that booking is required. |
The house is late 19th Century and was commissioned by Lord William and Lady Margaret Armstrong, a Victorian inventor and a keen gardener. William is known for the Swing Bridge in Newcastle and they jointly created Jesmond Dene with other achievements further afield.
William's experiments with hydroelectricity enabled amazing use of technologies in the house at that time. These included a hydraulic lift, water-powered spit and electric light. To this day, Cragside uses a hydroelectric system. In 2014 the National Trust installed an Archimedes Screw, which uses water from Tumbleton Lake. As water passes through the spiral blades, the screw turns and harnesses the energy of the falling water. The electricity produced lights the whole house, and any surplus goes to the National Grid.
The history, maps and what to see can be found on Cragside's website.
This is a joint visit with the Garden, Local History, and S.E.T. groups. Cragside is a very large site with many walks around the estate and in the formal garden areas. The visit is timed to see the rhododendrons in bloom, Note that a small bus travels a circular route around the grounds every 30 minutes which will be helpful for our less mobile members.
The coach will leave the Monaco bus stop at Bishop Auckland Town Hall at 9 am and, traffic permitting, we should arrive at Cragside between 10.15 and 10.30. The departure time will be approximately 3.30 pm with arrival back in Bishop Auckland 4.45 - 5 pm but this will be confirmed before you leave the coach at Cragside. Members please remember to bring your National Trust Membership cards as staff on site will check validity on the day.
This is a National Trust property but Cragside is not part of any free admission promotions.