From the Big Bang to the 21st century: enjoy a sensory historical tour, including artefacts and research, and experience the unique work of businessman and innovative engineer Lord Armstrong of Cragside.

Cragend is an ancient Northumberland farm linked to the National Trust property Cragside House. The farm was re-modelled and transformed to use hydraulic engineering by Northumbrian industrialist Lord William Armstrong of Cragside 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.

Visit the farm, its buildings, the agricultural hydraulic machinery and engineering skills of 'The Magician of the North', the silo, weighbridge with its Victorian machinery, the Cragend Grange hydraulic turbine 'Pump Room', the courtyard and dairies, and see the farmhouse where there is on-going work stripping back the years to the original stonework.

Following refreshments on arrival, the tour will focus on the following:

• Brief history of Cragend Farm pre-1850
• Why Cragend Farm is historically linked to National Trust property Cragside
• Demonstration of stone work to show how the original 16th-century buildings have been used by Armstrong to recreate the newer buildings.
• View and discussion of cobbled walkways past cow stables, shearing barn, tack room etc.
• Bull Pen and its importance.
• Plans for the future with the restoration of the farm at the forefront.
• Silo visit. Those able to climb steep stairs can view lower and higher levels.
• Weighbridge with Victorian machinery.
• Courtyard and dairies
• Farmhouse (work in progress) 'stripping back' the years to review the original stonework.
• Cragend Grange hydraulic turbine 'Pump Room' .
• Further conversation, viewing of museum and other information, powerpoints etc with refreshments.

Tickets £12.50 including tea/coffee and biscuits

STURDY FOOTWEAR REQUIRED.