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H.M. Factory, Gretna, Site 3: Eastriggs
Date 5 April 2022
Event ID 1154991
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1154991
Canmore ID: 375019
NY26SW 38.36
NY 24936 65060 (centred)
A moss- and grass-grown concrete floor (NY 24930 65060) is situated in dense deciduous scrub woodland about 8m ESE of Retort House North (NY26SW 38.11) and 44m NNE of the Condenser Towers (NY26SW 38.35). It measures about 18m from NNE to SSW by 7m transversely and its SW corner is defined by square concrete footings for steel stanchions. However, it has been slighted by the Narrow-Gauge Railway line (NY26NW 46.27) running between Explosives Magazines R10 and R11 (NY26NW 46.12).
This floor is shown on the plan of, and in text referring to, the works (MMW 1919, plan, 83-9) given in the report by the Ministry of Munitions of War outlining the processes involved in the manufacture of cordite propellant during the First World War at H.M. Factory, Gretna (Site 3). The floor formed the foundation of one of the three Preliminary Acid Mixing Houses (see NY26SW 38.37), which were used to make an approximately correct mixed acid before this was sent to the Final Mixing House (NY26SW 38.32) for blending. The report indicates that there was a companion to the ESE of this building which was the same in all respects (NY 24942 65056). No trace of it was observed on the date of visit. Descriptions of blueprints (SUPP 10-20, 3702, 3830) and a blueprint (SUPP 10-27, 3702) held in the National Archives at Kew show that these buildings were single storey, single bay, steel framed structures clad with corrugated iron sheets. They possibly had ridged roofs with skylights and vents running their full length like their counterpart to the S (NY26SW 38.37).
The buildings fell into lot 507, which was offered for sale by auction on 22-5 July 1924 (HM Treasury 1924, 101, items 3 and 4). The catalogue adds that they measured 15 ft (4.5m) in height. The lot was bought by Messrs James Jackson & Co Ltd, St Vincent Street, Glasgow (Carlisle City Archives, DX 2040/3). After its removal from the site, only the foundations were left in place and these are readily visible on an aerial photograph (M124/13 04117) flown on 19 August 1940.
Visited by HES Heritage Recording (MMD and ATW), 5 April 2022.
