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Gretna, Hm Factory, Eastriggs Explosives Factory, Nitrocotton Production Area, Pump House
Nitrocellulose Factory (First World War), Pump House (First World War)
Site Name Gretna, Hm Factory, Eastriggs Explosives Factory, Nitrocotton Production Area, Pump House
Classification Nitrocellulose Factory (First World War), Pump House (First World War)
Alternative Name(s) Hm Factory Gretna Site 3
Canmore ID 374986
Site Number NY26NE 140.14
NGR NY 25289 65133
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/374986
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Dornock
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Annandale And Eskdale
- Former County Dumfries-shire
Field Visit (13 May 2023)
Canmore ID 374986
Site Number NY26NE 140.14
NGR NY 25290 65136
Nothing is visible in dense deciduous scrub woodland of a Pump House which was situated about 3m SSW of the Press House (NY26NE 140.13).
The building is shown on the plan of the works given with a Ministry of Munition Works report (MMW 1919, plan) 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 L-shaped on plan and measured 21m from WNW to ESE by 18m transversely. A small structure is shown immediately to its NNE (NY 25302 65142). An undated plan (SUPP 10-39) held in the National Archives at Kew identifies it as a Pump House. A ground-based, contemporary official photograph taken after construction (MUN 5-297 pt3, 474) also held at Kew, shows that the taller part of the building that probably contained the pumps had a Belfast roof and three windows lighting an upper storey in the WNW elevation. Below, there was a central doorway with a window to either side. There were at least two windows in its SSE elevation. The remainder of the building was a single-storey structure with a ridged roof and four windows in its SSW elevation.
This building fell into lot 509, which was offered for sale by auction on 22-5 July 1924 (HM Treasury 1924, 102) when the land was partly purchased by Mr F. Graham, Raygarth, Eastriggs (Carlisle City Archives, DX 2040/3). After its removal from the site, only the concrete foundations were left in place and these are readily visible on an aerial photograph (M124/13 04118) flown on 19 August 1940. A later aerial photograph (CAM/031 6210) flown on the 13 October 1942 shows that the foundations of Explosives Magazine R16 (NY26NW 46.12) had been introduced and the construction of the bund was about to lead to the destruction of what remained of the building.
Visited by HES Heritage Recording (MMD and AW) 13 May 2022.
