Armstrong and the Magic of Water Power

Join acclaimed author Henrietta Heald for an inspiring talk that brings history vividly to life. In her biography of north-east inventor Lord William Armstrong, she tells how this brilliant visionary and engineer behind Northumberland eco-home, Cragside, created the world’s first hydroelectric house. Renowned for transforming real lives into compelling stories, Henrietta combines rich research with a clear, engaging and accessible style.

Set in the unique surroundings of Historic Houses' ‘Cragend Farm’, once Armstrong’s own demonstration centre for his hydraulics, this is a rare chance to explore the life and legacy of one of the north east’s greatest figures from a different angle.

The Talk: Armstrong and the Magic of Water Power by Henrietta Heald

• Which Northumbrian devised the mechanism for the opening and closing of London’s Tower Bridge?
• Whose obsession with water power led him to build a hydroelectric machine in the 1840s?
• Who was described in his Times obituary of 1900 as ‘Newcastle’s greatest citizen’ and ‘the inventor of modern artillery’?

The answer to all three is, of course, William Armstrong, or Sir William Armstrong, who in 1887 became the first engineer to be raised to the peerage, as Baron Armstrong of Cragside.

Henrietta Heald

Biographer and historian Henrietta Heald, author of Magician of the North, tells the fascinating story of Armstrong’s engineering odyssey, from his early experiments with the water-pressure wheel to his role in building and arming the world’s navies.

The development of ever more sophisticated hydraulic machinery, such as that on show at Cragend Farm and Bamburgh Castle, was at the heart of Armstrong’s remarkable success. Later, following a collaboration with the Newcastle chemist Joseph Swan, Cragside was celebrated as the first house anywhere to be lit by hydroelectricity.

Henrietta will also talk about The Armstrong Project, an exciting new initiative in Jesmond Dene, Newcastle, to restore Armstrong’s semi-ruined Banqueting Hall as a place of learning and discovery – and as a vibrant memorial in his native city to the great Northumbrian. The Royal Society of Art’s Albert Medal in 1878 was awarded to William Armstrong (later The Lord Armstrong) CB DCL FRS ‘because of his distinction as an engineer and as a scientific man, and because by the development of the transmission of power – hydraulically – due to his constant efforts, extending over many years, the manufacturers of this country have been greatly aided, and mechanical power beneficially substituted for most laborious and injurious manual labour’.

Programme:

• Refreshments 10.45am
• Talk by Henrietta Heald 11am
• Cragend Farm Tour (for those interested after the talk):

The ancient farm known as Cragend was remodelled and transformed to use hydraulic equipment by Northumbrian industrialist Sir William Armstrong in the 1880s. It has a unique history thanks to this great innovator's vision for engineering and science, including a Grade II* Agricultural Site.

Enjoy a shorter historical tour of the farm and its buildings, and marvel at the agricultural hydraulics and engineering skills of ‘the Magician of the North’. Visit the Cragend Farm Hydraulic Silo (Historic England No. 1153196 ), the Victorian H. Pooley weighbridge, the Cragend Grange hydraulic ‘Turbine Room’, the courtyard and dairies.

• Cragend Farm Hydraulic Silo visit. Those able to climb steep stairs can view lower and higher levels with hoist and turbine. (There is a virtual tour on Cragend YouTube).
• Weighbridge with Victorian machinery.
• Cragend Grange hydraulic ‘Turbine Room’.
• Conversation, information, and time to view their collection of award-winning artefacts.

If it's a fine day, there is the opportunity to stay afterwards and enjoy your own picnic lunch in the grounds of Cragend Farm

STURDY FOOTWEAR REQUIRED.

Tickets £17.50 including refreshments on arrival