Wednesday 3 June 2009

Cragside


Last Sunday we visited Cragside House. I first went there when I was 8, and fell in love with it. Built by Lord Armstrong, a Victorian engineering genius and arms magnate, it's a mad mock-Tudor schloss set in the most enormous rock-garden - 1700 acres of lakes, forest, winding paths and rhododendrons which are in bloom in late May and early June. What a beautiful day we had!


Cragside is my dream home. When I rule the world I shall prise it from the grip of the National Trust and live there, but in the meantime here are some pictures of the azaleas and rhododendrons in flower.







6 comments:

Cora Zane said...

Oh wow, that place is gorgeous! Lovely pictures.

Sekrit Shoppa said...

I'm swooning at that house & the flowers as much as I do at the eyecandy. I've never heard of Cragside - where is it?

Emerald said...

Wow, what a rainbow of flowers — and that first picture is spectacular!

Janine Ashbless said...

I love azalias!

Cragside is in Northumberland, just NW of Newcastle. It's the first house ever powered by hydro-electricity, and the inside is sort of Victorian-1920s in era. I remember being struck - at 8 yrs old - by the slightly kinky statue on the stairs! Well worth a visit.

Sekrit Shoppa said...

Thanks - if I'm in that neck of the woods, I'll definitely go and visit.

Lucy Felthouse said...

Wow, it looks stunning. I'm in that neck of the woods in September so shall put that on my to visit list!! x