august2017 – fraggle ~ rocking a camera across the Universe

Sophie and I went off to visit Druridge Bay, a manmade lake, Watersport place and Nature reserve. However when we got there we saw they were having a vintage rally so we decided to do that instead. Lots of old cars and enginey things to look at and photograph.

Lots of dogs too of course

vintage tractors were popular

an old cow milker

not sure what this was for, didn’t like the look of the fluorescent liquid that was produced!

I guess it is some sort of pump, as is this next one

no idea what this one does

this one is easy

there was a vintage fairground game

and vintage tattoo’s

vintage bikes too, but that seat didn’t look comfortable!

next time we’ll see some of the cars and vans so stay tooned!

The History Bit

Cresswell Hall was built between 1821 and 1825, with the money inherited by Addison John Cresswell’s missis when her wealthy cousin died. The Hall was designed by London architect John Shaw and the building work supervised by Benjamin Green of Newcastle. It was a very grand building, constructed of sandstone from surrounding quarries, and to ward off the cold temperatures of the North East, even had central heating.

The grounds were beautiful and included stables, avenues of shrubs, rockeries, a croquet lawn, tennis courts and a miniature railway. It also had a conservatory

and the kitchen garden included a peach house, a vinery, potting sheds and a boiler house. In 1924 the hall was bought by Northumberland County Council at auction, but was sadly demolished in 1930 due to structural and other problems. I can’t find any info on what those other problems may have been.

Apart from the Stables only the two colonnaded walls that linked the Hall to the Stables and Conservatory are still standing.

Sophie and I went to find the ruins, and photograph what was left. Mother nature is taking it all back bit by bit, but there’s still enough standing to get an impression of what a magnificent building it must have been.