BUILT on a rocky outcrop overlooking the Debdon Burn and Rothbury, Cragside House was a Victorian trailblazer.
The creation of the great Tyneside industrialist, inventor and innovator William (later Lord) Armstrong, the mock-Tudor mansion was not only the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity, but was crammed full of the sort of ingenious labour- saving gadgets we take for granted these days, from dishwashers to rotary spits, and even lifts.
Now the Sir Norman Shaw- designed residence originally built as a weekend country retreat for Lord and Lady Armstrong has inspired another first – for the National Trust at least. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of work starting on Cragside House, a specially commissioned stick of commemorative rock will tomorrow go on sale in the tearoom as the estate also marks the start of the 2013 season by opening its doors to visitors for free this half-term.
The edible confectionery with the lettering “Cragside 150” running through it has been inspired by the house’s spectacular elevated position which gives way to one of Europe’s largest rock gardens descending to the valley below.
This is the first time one of the National Trust’s Yorkshire and North East properties has sold bespoke rock, and it is believed to be unique in the conservation charity as a whole.
Rock is usually associated with seaside towns, but Cragside stands 20 miles inland in an area of Northumberland renowned for its picturesque hills and rolling open moorland. Cragside’s head chef May Wilson says when it came to celebrating this year’s landmark anniversary on the food front, rock seemed an obvious choice.
“The house is built into a rocky hillside and wherever you look the rocky landscape is an important feature of the estate, from the spectacular rock garden to the rocks the Debdon Burn tumbles over on its way to the meet the River Coquet to the miles of rocky paths cutting through the forest and even the stone used for the buildings.”
Rock isn’t the only nostalgic anniversary tie-in food visitors can expect to see on the Cragside Tearoom menu in the coming months.
Fitting in with the estate’s 19th century roots will be Victorian Life Cakes – which are actually crisp, spiced biscuits. Traditionally made in the shape of a heart, these biscuits containing grated nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon and ginger were given as tokens of love on Valentine’s Day.
Half-term this year falls just a few days after February 14, but visitors can expect to see the biscuits on sale all year.
Also making an appearance will be the Whittingham Button Biscuit. Associated with the Northumberland village of the same name, this very local recipe which uses custard powder alongside plain flour and icing sugar was probably discovered by accident.
Crisp and sweet, these round biscuits are made to look like buttons with the addition of four thread holes in the top.
May says to add a local flavour to the baking section at the annual Whittingham Show, which this year takes place on August 17, the biscuits were given a class of their own in 2004 in both the industrial and children’s sections.
Children are this half-term also being invited to decorate their own Cragside 150 cupcake. Ready-made cupcakes complete with a decorating kit will be on sale in the tearoom and edible Cragside 150 cake-toppers will also be on sale.
