Unique and spellbinding speech to be heard again
In August 1863, during his presidency of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, Sir William Armstrong delivered a magisterial and spellbinding analysis of human ingenuity and the industrial revolution. It was described by Charles Darwin as 'Armstrong's admirable speech' and by the veteran scientific luminary Sir Roderick Murchison as 'the best address that has ever been heard at the British Association'. As vividly depicted in the Illustrated London News (see above), the venue was Newcastle's magnificent New Town Hall, since demolished.
In 2013 – the 150th anniversary of the Admirable Speech – the British Science Association (as it is now called) will hold its annual meeting in Newcastle. As part of the festivities, the speech will be re-enacted by the highly acclaimed Geordie actor Chris Connel. The event will take place on the evening of Sunday, 8 September, in the King's Hall of the Armstrong Building. William Armstrong laid the foundation stone of this building, now the centrepiece of Newcastle University, in 1887.
Among many extraordinary insights, Armstrong accurately predicted the end of large-scale coal-mining in Britain and urged his audience to turn their thoughts to more sustainable sources of energy, particularly water power. In response to his exhortation, the Admirable Speech will be followed by a debate on the future of carbon, chaired by Chi Onwurah, MP for Newcastle Central and member of the Shadow Cabinet.
The partners in this venture are the British Science Association, the Great North Festival, the Great Debate and Armstrong Studio Trust.
Hydroelectricity returns to Cragside
It was also 150 years ago that William Armstrong bought the land on which he would build the 'magician's palace' of Cragside – the house destined become the first in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity.
Fittingly, 2013 will see hydroelectricity return to Cragside after a long interlude. This will be the subject of a debate at the house on Wednesday, 19 June, to be held under the aegis of the Great North Festival, and many other events are in preparation to celebrate the momentous anniversary.
Seen from an upper room at Cragside is the Debdon Burn, dammed to produce the world's first hydroelectric lighting.