Cragside!

A wonderful day ! We visited Cragside, see extra for the house.  First we took, in the car, the carriage drive round the estate.  6 miles @15 m / h!  We stopped for a few photos at the lake, the boathouse (no lake there!) and finally parked near the visitor centre and tearoom! Time for a bite to eat.  
Finally we went round the house and that’s where I saw this fantastic two-storey inglenook fireplace.  So massive it was built into the hillside to support its reputedly 10 tons of marble, alabaster and onyx.

The house had so many new innovations as it was the home of William and Mary Armstrong.  They shared the love of the property.  They planted so many trees : we saw huge conifers and deciduous trees! A real jungle now! Lots of rhododendron too.  The engineered lakes were used to provide hydroelectricity.  It was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity! 

We didn’t have time, or energy to visit the formal garden. Built on a hillside, it was very up and down!  I would love to go there again! 

We left and went back to the hotel.  Then went off to church, one not far from The Angel of the North! 

On the way back from there we stopped at the Metrocentre for a meal at Wagamama! Delicious, especially the banana Katsu! The staff were really nice! So friendly, such a happy atmosphere! I really enjoyed my meal! 

Hope you are all having a great weekend! Xx