William Armstrong built dams to create five new lakes on his Cragside estate in Northumberland, and installed a hydraulic engine in 1868, powered by water flowing down from the lakes. Then in 1870 Armstrong installed a German-built Siemens dynamo, in what was probably the world's first hydroelectric power station. The generator was used to provided electricity to Cragside House and the farm buildings on the estate.
The Middlesbrough School of Art opened in 1870, located alongside the Mechanics' Institute on Durham Street in Middlesbrough (later to relocate to Linthorpe). This was a forerunner of the Cleveland College of Art & Design (now The Northern School of Art).
The sinking at Skelton Park ironstone mine started in 1870, by three brothers (Isaac Lowthian, Thomas and John Bell), to supply their ironworks at Port Clarence. The mineral rights and land was leased from Mr Wharton of Skelton Castle. The sinking of the two shafts were completed in 1872, and in 1873 the mine produced 176,238 tons of ironstone.
Co-Curate is a project which brings together online collections, museums, universities, schools
and community groups to make and re-make stories and images from North East England and Cumbria.
Co-Curate
is a trans-disciplinary project that will open up 'official' museum and 'un-officia'l co-created
community-based collections and archives through innovative collaborative approaches using
social media and open archives/data.
