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Gretna Hm Factory Eastriggs Factory, Acids Section, Acids Compound, Building
Ablutions Block (First World War)
Site Name Gretna Hm Factory Eastriggs Factory, Acids Section, Acids Compound, Building
Classification Ablutions Block (First World War)
Alternative Name(s) Hm Factory Gretna Site 3
Canmore ID 374993
Site Number NY26SW 38.20
NGR NY 25049 64978
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/374993
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Dornock
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Annandale And Eskdale
- Former County Dumfries-shire
Field Visit (12 May 2022)
Canmore ID: 374993
Site Number NY26W 39.20
NGR NY 25049 64978
Nothing is visible of this building which is situated under Explosives Magazine R11 (NY26NW 46.12).
The building is shown to have been located within the Acids Compound on the plan of the works (MMW 1919, plan) given in the report by the Ministry of Munitions of War outlining the processes involved in the manufacture of the cordite propellant during the First World War at H.M. Factory, Gretna (Site 3). It was T-shaped on plan and the cross-bar measured about 28m from WNW to ESE by 10.5m transversely, while the stem measured 7m from NNE to SSW by 6.5m transversely. A ground-based, contemporary official photograph taken after construction (MUN 5-297 pt5, 717) held at the National Archives at Kew illustrates the complex character of the building. It was a single storey, brick-built structure with a ridged roof capped by a vent running almost the full length of the building. There were at least two groups of skylights on the SSW. An outshot extended NNE from the centre of the building which was capped by a ventilator. Beyond this lay a small structure (NY 25055 64994) which was rectangular on plan and measured about 6m from WNW to ESE by 2m transversally overall. There was a porch in the centre of its SSW elevation and at least one other doorway close to the NE corner of the ESE elevation. It was also well-lit by windows below the eaves.
This building formed part of lot 508, which was offered for sale by auction on 22-5 July 1924 (HM Treasury 1924, 101, item 4), when the lot was partly purchased by J.M. Temple, Black-hills, Eastriggs and partly by Messrs James Jackson & Co Ltd, St Vincent Street, Glasgow (Car-lisle City Archives, DX 2040/3). The catalogue adds that this was an ablutions block contain-ing WC’s and wash hand basins. After its removal from the site, only the foundations of it were left 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), 12 May 2022.
