Lord Armstrong – Victorian Engineer

Lord Armstrong who died in 1900 at the age of ninety was one of the Engineering Genius’s who profited from the Industrial Revolution, whose hydraulic machinery developed from experiments carried out on the Cragside Estate requiring the creation of two lakes.

One of the lakes is now drained but the weir remains along with a thatched roof boathouse providing a sheltered location for a picnic on a wet day. The lakes were used to power the hydraulic machinery, which is on display in the Power House at the lowest point on the Estate.

The resulting machinery produced in his factories located along the side of the upper navigable river Tyne at Elswick to Scotswood was used to shipbuilding an heavy engineering industries and also used to raise Tower Bridge in London.

He also turned his hand to manufacture of artillery weapons supplying the Armies and Navies of Military powers worldwide, his name and factories continued well into the twentieth century during both World Wars.

The house was built by Richard Norman Shaw who was brought from London on three occasions had to learn new materials which were available in Northumberland.

Stone was found locally and on the Estate, the quarry is now a car park for those wishing to venture out on the many trails within the grounds or wanting shelter to picnic on a windy day.

She also imported many trees from around the world for planting on the vast acreage of the estate many of which can be observed from the drive around the estate or trekking on the many trails, on which it is easy to get lost.

The Power Circuit trail, a 1mile walk alongside Debden Burn, includes the Ram and Power houses in which hydroelectric machinery is displayed. The Terraced Garden contains an Orchard House and restored 19th-century clock tower

Within the house there are many exhibits of Armstrong’s inventions, a fine collection of paintings and period furniture as well as early examples of taxidermy which interested Margaret with her friend John Hancock founder of the Natural History Museum in Newcastle and said to be the founder of modern techniques of taxidermy in Britain.

The hall was the first to have permanent electric lighting, a service lift from the kitchen and a rotating spit over the fire all powered by hydroelectricity generated on the estate using the man made lakes and pump house below.

The visitor’s centre located in the stables in the gamekeepers lodge also houses a fine exhibition of the engineering brilliance of Lord Armstrong. The estate is now managed and maintained by the National Trust, closed through the winter months and worthy of a full days visit to capture the majesty of Cragside.