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HM Factory Gretna, Site 3: Eastriggs
Date 26 January 2023
Event ID 1159008
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1159008
Canmore ID 375335
Site Number NY26SW 38.58
NGR NY 24798 64981
This tree-grown Laboratory building is situated in dense deciduous scrub woodland about 20m NE of the NE corner of the Mannheim Oleum Plant (NY26SW 38.2). It is now reduced to little more than a rectangular foundation defined by narrow walls. This encloses a roughly L-shaped concrete platform measuring roughly 7.7m from WNW to ESE by 3m transversely at the narrowest point and 0.2m in height. The stumps of two white vitreous enamel urinals are located on the SSW side of this platform with the remnants of a WC wastepipe opposite. There are single rectangular plinths close to the SW and SE corners of the building.
The building is shown on a plan and described in text within a Ministry of Munition Works report (MMW 1919, plan, 44) held in the National Archives, Kew, outlining the processes involved in the manufacture of the cordite propellant during the First World War at H.M. Factory, Gretna (Site 3, Eastriggs). It was rectangular on plan and measured about 14m from WNW to ESE by 10m transversely. The building is identified as a Laboratory on an undated plan (SUPP 10-39) held by the National Archives at Kew and this, together with the Gas House situated about 10m ESE (NY26SW 38.57), served both the Mannheim Oleum and the Grillo Oleum Plants (NY26SW 38.1). An early blueprint (SUPP 10-28 3913) and a ground-based contemporary official photograph (MUN 5-297 pt5 710E) taken after construction also held at Kew, suggest that it was a single storey building with a ridge roof.
The building fell into lot 506, which was offered for sale by auction on 22-5 July 1924 (HM Treasury 1924, 100), when the lot was purchased by Messrs James Jackson & Co Ltd, St Vincent Street, Glasgow (Carlisle City Archives, DX 2040/3). After its removal from the site, only its foundations were left in place and these are readily visible on an aerial photograph (M124/13 04144) flown on 19 August 1940.
Visited by HES Heritage Recording (MMD and ATW), 26 January 2022
