Lou is the owner of Cragend Farm with her husband Shaun, and deals with everything from Holiday Accommodation inquiries to egg collection from the chickens; she is the social media and web design finger-tapper.
Jesmond Dene and its association with Cragend Farm.
We have been of the opinion the tree near the Cragend Farm Hydraulic Silo is a Hungarian Oak, as Natural England came and inspected it, so we took their word for it, but on further inspection, because of the furred acorn cups it has, we have done more research.
Taking a look at them in leave and with acorns aplenty this year on it we have to re classify it. It is a Turkey Oak quercus cerris. They are uncommon in northern regions for not grwoing so well in our colder climates and so ours is doing pretty well.
Jesmond Dene was planted by Lord and Lady Armstrong and given to the city for everyone to enjoy. By this time he had moved to his project of building his estate at Cragside.
Lord William Armstrong did much tree planting for the Royal Visits in Jesmond Dene ,Newcastle upon Tyne in 1884 and so it is possible that this one was also planted at a similar time, when the Prince and princess of Wales visited here at Cragend in 1884.
The Prince and Princess's visit was a significant event for us too.
They were shown around the house (Cragside), and the Prince was particularly amazed by the house's modern technology, including its hot and cold running water, central heating, and electric lighting. They were shown Cragend Farm as proven in a small article we found in some newspaper of the time. Not everyone listed the farm in their visit to Cragside but some did. The World 1884 and Norfolk Journal September 8th 1884.
Their visit also included a trip to Newcastle where the Prince and Princess opened the grounds of Armstrong's former home, Jesmond Dene, which had been donated to the city as a public park.
We will continue to research the planting here, as another project for those who come on our tours to experience.
The trees, ferns and shrubs here are similar or the same as at Cragside and Jesmond Dene for obvious reasons.
Whether you are flying in to Newcastle Airport or coming on the Ferry into Tyneside, we welcome you to visit us and explore our rich history at Cragend Farm.
Find Out More About Cragend
Cragend Farm has a interesting and diverse history, from technical innovations to historic buildings. Tied in closely to the neighbouring Cragside Estate home of Victorian inventor and industrialist Lord Armstrong.
Wonderful Dog Friendly B&B and self catering cottage, Amazing unique historic site, (featured on TV: Matt Baker’s Travels with Mum & Dad North East)
Original Cragside Architecture and Machinery. Celtic Camp and Ducal Border Reiver settlement, remodelled by Victorian Lord Armstrong of Cragside as his show case for hydraulic machinery.
ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT in ABOUT US.