Cragside wander and Formal Garden

a brief portion of my recent visit to Cragside estate. The colours at this time of year look amazing and it has so many incredible walks. Sadly the Carriage drive was closed due to flooding so i couldn't get through there this time.
The Clock Tower you see in the video was built in 1864 and was the original pay office for the Cragside Estate. The clock mechanism is thought to have been designed by Lord Armstrong himself. The clock tower is Grade II listed on the National Heritage List for England.
William and Margaret Armstrong transformed the grounds from a bare moorside into a fantasy mountain landscape. They filled the grounds with millions of trees and covered the hillsides in rhododendron.
Lady Armstrong became as distinguished for her modesty and generosity as her husband. She worked tirelessly to improve education and healthcare throughout her life. She took a particular interest in a local children's hospital, where she donated a lot of her own money.
She also helped several other charities, including deaf, blind and women's charities.
Cragside House was Britain's original 'smart home'. The Victorian mansion illuminated by hydroelectricity and powered hydraulics. Created for beauty and function, you’ll discover towering trees, overflowing flower beds, trickling burns, dramatic water cascades as well as engineered lakes that were created to harness the power of water.
It’s definitely well worth taking the hike up the stone steps from the Iron Bridge to the Formal Garden, the views up there are amazing. Once at the top you will be welcomed by colourful flower beds and lots of benches to rest your legs. The gardeners have brought back the fashionable Victorian displays. Every plant and flower has been carefully selected for its bright, bold colour and meticulously planted in straight lines and geometric patterns to bring uniformity to the beds. Visiting during the spring and summer months is a must if you want to see these gardens in full bloom.
Cragside was not William's first attempt at landscaping and architecture. The Armstrongs were given Jesmond Dene in Newcastle as a wedding gift.
A steep sided valley cut by the meandering Ouseburn, this was the couple's first attempt at landscaping and large-scale planting. They shaped the valley and enhanced its natural features, creating what became a model for Cragside.

How the house developed .......

The Armstrongs and Normal Shaw (the Architect) worked to extend Cragside over 25 years. Originally a modest fishing lodge, they transformed it into a fantasy castle of luxury and convenience.

The first house at Cragside was relatively modest, with only two storeys. It was a picturesque house rather than a grand country house. Its interiors were homely and conventional, decorated with wallpaper and catalogue furniture.
As the house was extended certain marvels were installed, such as a plunge bath and a central heating system, a hydraulic lift, water-powered spit and, most brilliantly, electric light. Cragside was a home that dazzled all who visited and set the standard for modern living.

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.
Dramatic turrets and towers were also added. Inside, the interiors were lavish combinations of exotic fabrics, gothic carving and pre-Raphaelite stained glass. An extensive gallery housed natural history specimens and contemporary art.

The different smells of the plants and trees at Cragside is wonderful especially during the warm months.
I hope you enjoy this short wander and especially the beauty of this place.

Music courtesy of Alexander Nakarada (creatorchords.com)