The rain was lashing down with a fierce wind blowing across the wet fields at the Battle of Flodden this morning just as it had on September 9th in 1513 when James IV faced Henry VIII’s army. The Scots were at a disadvantage due to their heavy weapons and position, fighting in deep boggy ground.  It was the bloodiest battle ever between the two countries resulting in about 1500 English killed but over 10,000 Scots were killed including the Scottish king.
Continuing through the persistent heavy rain we continued to Cragside which was the first place in the world to be lit using hydroelectricity using water from one of their lakes and it even had a hydraulic lift.  It had been the home of William and Margaret Armstrong who enlarged their house and supposedly is the first “smart home” with inventions made by Armstrong.  As his wife was a keen gardener they set about landscaping the gardens and the estate and entertained many guests including royalty.  It is a fascinating large house and the extensive estate grounds would have been good to wander around if it was not for the soaking rain, but we have been before, so just walked in the nearby gardens.