This campaign has now closed
In 1878, Cragside in Northumberland became the first house in the world to be lit by hydro-electricity – a renewable energy “first” achieved though the innovation and engineering genius of Cragside’s creator, Lord Armstrong. Now, we want to install a modern mini hydro scheme alongside his original system. This will generate electricity from the original source, to power educational interactive models, to demonstrate electricity generation and explain the Victorian technology.
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In its management of Cragside since 1977, the National Trust has undertaken a wide range of conservation and restoration projects: buildings, interiors, gardens, paths, woodlands, and engineering apparatus. We have even plugged leaks in the man-made lakes in the highest areas of the estate. The hydraulic and hydro-electric machines have been a particular challenge. Being of such pioneering importance, their interpretation has tended to be academic and technical. Yet these innovations were not only the beginning of so much that is widely taken for granted today, but they have a new relevance as we consider energy provision alongside limited global resources and climate change. We believe the appreciation of this pioneering and prescient work should be wide, too. We wish to take on this challenge, telling the story of hydro-electricity at Cragside in the most accessible a way possible. We will install a modern mini hydro scheme alongside Armstrong’s original system to generate electricity from the original source, together with interactive models to demonstrate electricity generation and new interpretation of the original machinery. By doing so, it will be possible to deepen the understanding of existing audiences and also to widen participation and enjoyment to new groups. The challenge is not underestimated. With the lakes once again able to supply a source of water, we must complete the supply pipeline to the Power House. Here we will generate electricity from a newly installed modern “lean burn” turbine and explain how we are using the resulting power. There will be hand-engineered interactive models to demonstrate the principles of electricity generation and new interpretation of the existing machinery. Last but not least, we will explain the relevance of hydroelectric power as a renewable energy source for today.