Wallsend & Cragside England

Day19-21/ England 15-17

Travelled:163km

Visited: Wallsend (Elaine and Brian), Cragside National Trust £19pp

Stay: Killingsworth, near Amble- free parking along beach N55.3049 W1.5602

Our main reason for heading to Newcastle Upon Tyne was to meet our daughters’ partner’s parents, Elaine and Brian. From Friday to Sunday, we had such a terrific time together and are so appreciative of their warm welcome. We enjoyed a few drinks and meals at their local pub. Mark tasted the local brew, Newcastle Brown Ale.

 We also walked in Wallsend which is named after where Hadrian’s Wall ends. We went to have a look at what was left of the fort and the Roman baths.

 It was also a significant area for industry including ship building and engineering. Not only that it is where Elaine and Brian grew up and had their grocery shop. 

Later we went to have a look at the coast and stopped at Tynemouth where the River Tyne flows out to the sea. 

The area has plenty of character and there were plenty of people about. We stopped for a couple of drinks at the pub, Mark trying out a couple of new ales. 

On Sunday morning it was time for us to say farewell but looking forward to catching up with them later in the year. Our destination this afternoon was 40mins away to Cragside. It is a beautiful Victorian mansion owned by Lord Armstrong who was an inventor and innovator. It was the very first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity in 1880. 

We visited the available 33 rooms of a 100 where there were some interesting gadgets.... the water powered rotiserie,

 an elevator that was operated by a hydraulic ram, 

internal heating. He built the house to impress perspective business clients with beautiful wood paneling and amazing fireplaces.

 As well as a down stairs plunge pool, sauna, shower, bath and flushing toilets.

 All very avanguard for the time. Having been awed by the house we then ventured into the gardens. We stepped through the largest handmade rock garden in Europe and we’re surrounded by an abundance of purple and pink rhododendrons. One is even named after Lady Armstrong.

 We strolled under huge forest trees to the Power House where we looked at the original hydraulic and hydroelectrical machinery used to power the house. 

We then took the path to the formal garden which offered lovely views of the Simonside Hills and Coquet Valley.

 There was also the clock tower that not only rang every hour but also at the start and end of the day for the 300 servants that worked there. 

We passed the iron bridge on our way to the pump house which sends fresh water to the house. 

Here there is also the ingenious Archimedes screw which generates electricity to light the led bulbs in the house today. 

We only managed a fraction of the garden, unfortunately Bluey was too big to drive the 6mile road around the estate and see the the quarry, dam, lakes, labyrinth and children’s play area. So we then went to have a look at the visitors center which had some more information on Lord Armstrong’s work life and business ventures which included cranes, ships, military equipment and hydraulic mechanisms for bridges ie London Bridge. 

As we walked out it started to rain and we pointed Bluey for the coast having found a P4N spot just below Amble. We parked up and listened to the waves tucked up in Bluey making plans for tomorrow.