Classic Cragside

Our last day and it was a funny old start. The predicted cold with frost but then there was rain. Made the cars icy and when the sun came back the fields were steaming.
Our accommodation, which has been excellent, was just down stream from Brinkburn Priory on the R Coquet so we felt we should call in. Thought I’d been before but nothing was familiar. We walked down a lovely lane with great colours on the trees as we’ve seen everywhere this break and still arrived a bit early for their 10.00 am opening. A lovely lady let us in anyway giving us a brief outline of the place. The Abbey with lovely stained glass which was casting colourful reflections on the walls in the morning sun is used frequently for weddings. Behind the Abbey is a shell since being abandoned in the 1950’s. Right on the river it must have been a great place to live.
We then went on to Cragside which we have visited quite often but wanted a warming coffee after the cold stone walls at Brinkburn had chilled us. Very busy of course but still lovely as you can see from this classic view from the Iron Bridge. We walked around the rock garden before entering the house. It was owned by the Armstrong family who now also own Bamburgh Castle so they are known as the Armstrong’s of Bamburgh and Cragside. A famous 19th century industrialist he was the first to power light in his home by hydro electricity. Suitable then really that they used this place as the home of Edison in the film ‘Current Wars’ which we saw recently even though it was meant to be in the US! One thing we learned on this trip was it was the Armstrongs who developed Jesmond Dene in Newcastle as they lived there before building Cragside which they then left it to the people of Newcastle. Cragside is now in the ownership of the National Trust but Bamburgh Is still family owned and soon will be in the hands of the current curator the 5th Lord Armstrong to be.
We did a little nostalgia visiting in Rothbury and a couple of other places before heading home where we arrived just before dark.
It’s been a great break. Northumberland is a great county and in it’s autumn colours we’ve seen it at it’s glorious best.
Extra is looking down at the Iron Bridge from the house.
Extras are getting low so I will add a Flickr set soon so that I can do some recycling!