We decided to go to Cragside yesterday, it was the stately home of Tynesides Victorian engineer and inventor Lord William Armstrong. Described in1880 as 'a palace of the modern magician' it was the first building in the world to be lit by hydro-electricity.
The house also has a wealth of ingenious gadgets including fire alarm bells,telephones, a passenger lift and a Turkish bath suite. Armstrong constructed 5 lakes, one of europes largest rock garden and planted over 7 million trees and shrubs!
The whole of the estate is covered in wild naturalized rhododendrons. They are well managed and are not left to get out of hand, the overall effect is so pretty, although they were nearly over for this year they still managed an eyecatching 6 mile drive around the estate!
Nice on black
Thank you for all your comments and favs all are very welcome.
Gorgeous Fav.