Healing climate harm at Cragside, Northumberland

The first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity and full of Victorian gadgets and innovations, Cragside in Northumberland has always been at the forefront of modern living. But now, climate change has started to catch up with this pioneering place. More frequent and intense rainfall is overwhelming the house’s drainage system and beginning to find its way inside of the Arts and Crafts mansion.

 

Most affected is the drawing room with its immense, two-story high, ornately carved marble fireplace. Rainwater is pushing salts that are in the stonework of the house through to the decorative marble and plasterwork of fireplace inside, causing its surface to deteriorate, meaning urgent work is needed to save this irreplaceable piece of architecture from crumbling away. A two-stage project is currently underway to stabilise and future-proof the fireplace against climate-change, conserving it for future generations. 

 

As conservation work continues, Cragside is once again looking to the future - this time by looking to its past. Originally built by architect Lord Armstrong and his wife Lady Margaret, this pair of innovators created Britain’s original smart home when Cragside became the first house in the world to be illuminated by hydroelectricity, generated by its man-made lakes. A project in 2014 gave the estate the ability to yield enough energy from water to light the whole house by installing an Archimedes Screw, which works at an angle and allows water to pass between the Tumbleton Lake and the burn below.  This converts the power of the water flowing through it into electricity, a never-ending source that now illuminates the whole house and sends excess power back to the National Grid. Watch this video to discover more.

Building on a history of renewable energy at Cragside

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/tackling-climate-change-together?campid=Social_Central_ClimateChange_Facebook_Cragside

 

With its dramatic rock-face setting, impressive interiors and history of invention, Cragside in Northumberland has always been at the forefront of modern living.

 

Lord William Armstrong had a passion for efficiency and was an early adopter of emerging technologies, filling the home with Victorian gadgets and inventions. The estate made a name for itself in 1878 when it was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity using arc lamps. In 1880, the library was fitted with incandescent light bulbs created by the chemist and physicist Joseph Swan.

 

To this day, Cragside uses a hydroelectric system. In 2014 we installed an Archimedes Screw, which uses water from Tumbleton lake. As water passes through the spiral blades, the screw turns and harnesses the energy of the falling water. The electricity produced lights the whole house, and any surplus goes to the National Grid.

 

Damage caused to irreplaceable marble fireplace

 

While Cragside harnesses the force of water to light the House, increased rainfall brought by climate change is overwhelming its drainage system creating problems for the two-story-high marble fireplace. 

 

Rainwater is pushing salts in the stonework of the house into the decorative marble and plasterwork of the fireplace inside, causing its surface to deteriorate, meaning urgent work is needed to save this irreplaceable piece of architecture from crumbling away.

 

A two-stage project is currently underway to stabilise and future-proof the fireplace against climate change.

 

The conservation and repair of the fireplace are possible thanks to generous donations from the Wolfson Foundation, a grant from the government’s Culture Recovery Fund administered by Historic England, and two private donors.