Tourist attraction in northumberland, Things to do in northumberland, Places to visit in Northumberland, Things to do near Cragside, B&B near Cragside Rothbury, things to do in northumberland, tourist attraction,

The Silo Grade II* Listed Building at Cragend Farm. credit Jim Scott

Tours and Events

Historic Tour about the Farm of Lord Armstrong of Cragside , Tours & Events in Northumberland.

Click here to see a short clip about our tours

GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE FROM £15

Tree Trails : May June and July - see Blog for details.

TALK Event Author Henrietta Heald: 8th June 2026:

British Archaeology Festival:

TALK:

An exciting opportunity to join acclaimed author Henrietta Heald, for a fascinating talk bringing history vividly to life. Her acclaimed biography exploring North East Inventor Lord William Armstrong tells how this brilliant visionary and engineer behind Northumberland eco-home, Cragside, became the world’s first hydroelectric house. Known for transforming real lives into compelling stories, she blends rich research with an engaging, 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.

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 manufactures 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 a fine day, there is the opportunity to stay afterwards and bring your own picnic lunch in the grounds of Cragend Farm.

July-August 2026 Council for British Archaeology Festival events:

We are excited to announce that the theme for the 2026 CBA Festival of Archaeology is “Archaeology and Nature”. The Festival will take place across the UK from Saturday 18th July to Sunday 2nd August.

Archaeology and nature are interconnected revealing how humans have lived with, shaped, and been shaped by the environment around them. By exploring the past using the climate, geology, animals, plants, landscapes and the effect of nature on archaeological sites and buildings today, we can understand how places and communities evolve and develop.

The Festival of Archaeology is the perfect time to bring these connections to life. Hosting an event — whether it’s a guided walk, a talk, community fieldwork project, or a creative workshop — invites people to see that archaeology isn’t just about the past. It’s about our ongoing story with the world around us.

By celebrating archaeology and nature, we can inspire curiosity and develop a deeper sense of belonging to the landscapes we share. We can’t wait to see how you interpret the theme.

USE THE CONTACT PAGE AND LET US KNOW.

Celtic Camp and Ducal Border Reiver settlement, remodelled by Victorian Lord Armstrong of Cragside as his show case for hydraulic machinery.

Our tours start in May to October 2025. Booking essential. Book direct using our contact page or through

https://www.historichouses.org/house/cragend-farm/visit/

This year we have been focusing on more repair and restoration work with a couple of talks locally for WI and U3A groups. If you are interested in us talking to your group please let us know.

British Council for Archaeology Festival July and August 2026

By celebrating archaeology and nature, we can inspire curiosity and develop a deeper sense of belonging to the landscapes we share. We can’t wait to see how you interpret the theme.

HENRIETTA HEALD TALK EVENT:

Monday 8^th June 11am Cragend Farm hosts a talk by Cragside Biographer :

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.

More on our Blog alos booked through historic Houses Invitation to View or direct.

Heritage Open Days September 2025

Take a look at whats going on at Cragend Farm:

Historic Tours are back for 2025!

Book now for our historic tours of the Farm, with information and tales aplenty about our links to Cragside and Lord William Armstrong. Our Grade II* Listed Silo and outbuildings are full of history and intrigue.

Bookings taken direct via our website using our contact page for dates in May - October 2025.

Visit Cragend Farm and explore the Victorian farm steading designed and created by Lord Armstrong of Cragside. See the Grade II* listed Silo Tower, weighbridge and many original features. Weather permitting there will be tours around the site and time to sit and reflect in our stone flagged Courtyard. Please call to book a tour by appointment.

£15 per ticket. Includes refreshments. Book Now button or use the contact form to book your place. Tuesday or Wednesdays. By Appointment only.

In association with Historic Houses Association. Call 01669-621533.

Membership offer:

Discount Code CRAG33 for Historic Houses Membership for updates and news of all Historic Houses.

Numbers are limited. Covid restrictions may apply.

If you book a staycation with us we may be able to take you on a tour if time allows. Please ask for further details. Free to B&B and Cottage guests.

We run research days for people who really want to dig deep into the facts and figures of the architecture and the machinery here Cragend Farm. It's more like an open discussion Q&A over coffee and biscuits £10 pp. We are happy to have groups of 6+ to make for a tutorial style experience. Enquires to book direct via our contact page.

Tree Dedication and Rare Breed Sponsorship.

We are part of The Great Northumberland Forest, and continue to plant trees throughout the estate.

We have a new project for the coming year, to plant Ten Trees of Ten Varieties to celebrate ten years at Cragend.

Please get in touch if you would like to come and plant a tree and put up a guard to protect it's initial growth #treesforlife #plantbritain

Pledges and Sponsorship are welcomed for our Rare Breed animals and as we cruise into Spring, we are due some new-borns that will need a name. There is also competition to guess the number of babies born.

Contact [email protected] or use our contact page for further information.

Gifts for Christmas, Birthdays, anniversaries or just because ....

Mugs of our rare Breed Animals £20

Name a Rare Breed: When our maternity unit starts to become busy in the spring we are offering the chance for you name our new arrivals and receive a copy of their pedigree and details of their breed. £20.

Art Club Days:

Call for information on visiting the buildings and farm for photography, art and sculpture days.

Yoga Retreat

The Armstrong Room is a large space for taking time to relax and participate in some yoga or meditation. On fine days there are spaces for outdoor yoga. If you would like to book an yoga instructor please let us know in advance.

Write and Record: Music Inspirational Days

A quiet and inspiring environment for musicians to write, play and record.

Please ask for further details. Drum Kit and Piano available plus other smaller instruments.

Camping in the Woods

Newcastle and Northumberland Society Visits:

Open to members of the Newcastle and Northumberland Society to see the local heritage of Lord Armstrong by appointment.

The farm comprises of a multitude of buildings that have been placed together with some great thought by Lord William Armstrong to provide a working environment for his farm workers and their animals and machinery. Even the fields around it have been laid out with specific hedge lines to rotate the cows as they graze. The farm was built to be viewed from the carriage drive as a show piece.

Our tour will comprise of: A visit to the Farmhouse that is thought pre-date Armstrong and that was then extended to accomodate his workers in 1870-80. (This is currently unoccupied and in need of repair).

The workers cottages have tenants in currently so can only been seen from the outside but we have historic notes to help with discussion.

The wooden cow byres, bull house, stable and tack room at the rear of the main buldings are also a vital part of the farm as a whole with the cobbled stone walkway along the shed which is linked to a lane to the Silo creating a circle around the main barns.

An agricultural weighbridge bought by Armstrong from the 1871 Great Exhibition from H Pooley Ltd.

We will open the Grade II* Silo for people to look in. Sensible shoes are advisable (wellies if raining) and hard hats will be available. The Grade II* listed Silo. This building has been judged by Historic England to be of national importance being one of only 4% of Listed buildings with such heritage.

The main farm buildings are now our home but we are happy to show everyone around the ground floor, discuss the working of the different barns and show the Gilkes Turbine. Upstairs is the Granary (now bedrooms) and we have historical documentation showing how the rooms were writtenand drawn on by farm workers from the 1890’s until 2013.

We also have a number of photographs and ‘finds' that are relevant to the Victorian farm and earlier for inspection.

Rothbury Music Festival: July 2026

Simonside Show, Powburn Show, Harbottle Show, Alwinton Show 2026.

Cragend Farm B&B near Cragside Rothbury, is the perfect place to stay to enjoy this tour and other attractions in Northumberland.

Our cottage accommodation near Cragside is a perfect place to experience the work of Lord Armstrong in one of his workers cottages.

If you are looking for Cragside accommodation in Rothbury, our B&B and self catering accommodation is ideal.

We offer a farm stay experience in Rothbury Northumberland.

If you are looking for Cragside National Trust accommodation Cragend Farm Rothbury has B&B and self catering cottage holiday accommodation.

We offer Rothbury Bed and Breakfast accommodation for guest with dogs.

Our Holiday cottages in Rothbury near Cragside are ideal for a short break.

Luxury B&B near Cragside Rothbury is the ideal place to stay when visiting national Trust Cragside and Wallington.

Tours & Events in Northumberland, Historic Tour about the Farm of Lord Armstrong of Cragside