Cragside, one of Northumberland’s most treasured National Trust properties, is set to host a summer-long Sustainability Festival in celebration of its pioneering legacy in green technology and innovation. Once the home of Victorian industrialist and inventor William Armstrong, Cragside was the first house in the world to be powered by hydroelectricity, a fact that continues to inspire eco-conscious initiatives across the UK.
Located near the charming market town of Rothbury, Cragside boasts an extraordinary blend of natural beauty, technological history, and architectural wonder. This year’s festival, launching on 15 June and running until 31 August, will include interactive exhibits, guided walks, and hands-on workshops highlighting renewable energy, sustainable living, and Armstrong’s forward-thinking designs.
“This house was centuries ahead of its time,” said Sarah Marshall, Property Manager at Cragside. “Armstrong’s use of water power, his vision for self-sufficiency, and his passion for nature align perfectly with the environmental challenges we face today. The Sustainability Festival honours that legacy while encouraging visitors to explore what sustainability means in the 21st century.”
Visitors will be able to tour the hydroelectric powerhouse, explore the extensive gardens and lakes engineered to support Armstrong’s systems, and even try their hand at generating energy using replica water wheels and solar-powered devices. Families can enjoy child-friendly eco-trails and craft sessions using natural materials gathered from the estate’s vast woodland.
In addition to the educational focus, the estate’s tearoom will offer a special seasonal menu using locally sourced and sustainable produce, and the shop will feature artisan items from Northumbrian creators focused on eco-conscious crafts.
Cragside has long been a favourite for visitors to Northumberland, drawing history buffs, nature lovers, and engineers alike. With this new festival, the National Trust hopes to reaffirm the property’s role not only as a preserved piece of history, but as a living model for the future.
Tickets for the Sustainability Festival are included in the standard admission price. For more information and event times, visitors can check the official National Trust website.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/cragside