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The great day has arrived. We have loaded the Esse 990 wood burning range into the new house. It will be installed by our plumbers a flue fitted and soon we will be able to light it! I can't wait to cook on it. This is a classic ESSE, styling from the 1930s, blending vintage aesthetics with modern benefits. ...

After 14 months we have been granted permission to change the barns into a domestic dwelling, to renovate the Farmhouse and the Stables at the rear of the barns. There are 18 conditions to fulfill from bat surveys to fixing the slate roof of the Silo Tower. We have decided to use local tradesmen as much as possible and our main builders will be Storey & Edmondson based in R ...

The scaffolding was put up in June and was inside and outside the tower. There was such a huge amount of rubbish inside the tower that it took several skips to clear the debris before a safe level was established to put the scaffolding up. The floor was not cleared in its entirety to save money and so at that point we did not know how far down the floor was. ...

In 2010 Shaun and Lou started the process of applying to planning permission to renovate buildings at Cragend Farm. The main barns were conditionally allowed to be altered from agricultural to domestic use on the basis of 18 conditions, set by the planning Officers, and some of the conditions related to the Grade II* listed Silo to the east of the farm. None of the work cou ...

Renovation work to East Cottage We started renovating East Cottage in June 2011 and were able to move in by January 2012. Originally a farm workers cottage, it had been altered some decades ago. Originally it had a walk-in pantry, and a stove to heat water in the corner for washing and bathing purposes. Upstairs has since been divided to make three rooms rather than two. Ther ...

On our first visit to Cragend Farm, we spied a little stone building near the farmhouse and did not have a clue what it was for. After much clearing of earth, grass and rust we found a weighbridge. Made by H.Pooley & Sons it is a two wheel cart agricultural weighbridge, exhibited at the Great Exhibition in 1871, when we think Lord Armstrong of Cragside would have decided t ...

Shaun and Lou Renwick and their family bought Cragend Farm in April 2011, after several months of negotiations from the Armstrong Family. The Farm consists of a Farmhouse, 2 workers cottages, a Silo, a weighbridge and many barns and outhouses and approximately 140 acres of land and river frontage. ...

In June 2010 Shaun and Lou Renwick visited Cragend Farm with a view to buying it. It was in a very poor state, with many out buildings that were damaged. The sale of the farm took nearly a year to complete. The farmhouse stood empty, with two semi-detached cottages to the west side of the farm, and a large range of barns all connected, with additional barn and sheds around it ...

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to your fantastic farm on the Historic Houses tour on Tuesday. We both agree that it was the most interesting HHA visit we have ever done - and we have done many over the years! We had no idea of the extent of the Armstrong connection or what you have there, having visited Cragside on so many occasions in the past 50 years or so. And indeed looked down on the farm from the walks at Cragend quite recently. We particularly enjoyed ascending and descending the ladders to look at the hydraulic equipment and get an idea of how it all functioned, the beautiful and unusual buildings which had housed the cattle, and were intrigued by the contents of your "underground " loo! Peacocks and chicks, hens and a beautiful pet lamb added to the feel of the farm.

Shaun & Lou Renwick are keen to harness the farm's natural resources, using wood to heat their water, to cook with on a wood burning range, and to heat the houses on the Farm. Even if your house is not equipped to totally run on wood there are things you can do to make sure you are using the best quality wood for your fires.

Why use Seasoned Wood?

Seasoned wood is a definition for 'wood drying'. About 5% of the energy of the log is wasted through evaporation and heating the water vapour of damp logs.

Moisture effects the burning process with unburnt hydrocarbons going up the chimney, which can in time create 'sooting' in the chimney, with the possibility of a chimney fire, all of which requires specialist sweeping.

Drying the wood before burning reduces moisture content in the wood before it is used for burning,

Air drying is the most traditional method, and it takes time. usually over and above 2 years! The fire will use less energy to burn the log if the water content is below 20%. Therefore is can give OUT more energy in the form of heat!

Cragend Farm endeavours to provide their customers with the best seasoned wood possible.

if you would like further information on the process of burning wood please contact us and we will be happy to help.

Why seasoned wood?

Thank you so much Lou and Shaun for a great holiday break on your farm at Cragend last week. East Cottage was a super place to stay. Very comfortable accommodation with everything we needed for self-catering and situated next to the beautiful Cragside National Trust gardens. It was super for our dog with fields to walk across as well as a secure fenced place for her to run off lead! Such interesting history too about the farm and how you have restored the buildings, the Victorian silo and so much else of the past farming life at Cragend. We look forward to returning! J&M Nottingham.

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