Gretna, Hm Factory, Eastriggs Explosives Factory, Watercourses, Drains And Culverts
Culvert(S) (20th Century), Drain(S) (19th Century) - (20th Century), Watercourse(S) (19th Century)
Site Name Gretna, Hm Factory, Eastriggs Explosives Factory, Watercourses, Drains And Culverts
Classification Culvert(S) (20th Century), Drain(S) (19th Century) - (20th Century), Watercourse(S) (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Hm Factory Gretna Site 3
Canmore ID 375149
Site Number NY26NW 46.33
NGR NY 25318 65031
NGR Description centred NY 25318 65031
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/375149
- Council Dumfries And Galloway
- Parish Dornock
- Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
- Former District Annandale And Eskdale
- Former County Dumfries-shire
Field Visit (22 July 2022)
Canmore ID: 375149
NY26NW 46.33
NY 25318 65031 centred
Before the Eastriggs First World War munitions factory was built, the fields in the area had already been drained by a system of ditches canalising the natural watercourses (1st edition Ordnance Survey 25-inch map (Dumfriesshire, 1859, sheets 63.10, 63.11, 63.15). The principal watercourse then and now is the Saugh-hope Burn. This enters the Security Fence to the NE of Wylies Farm (NY 25246 65560) and heads E to touch the Security Fence again (NY 25323 65570) before heading roughly S towards the Transit Area (NY26NW 46.21). It curves around these blast mounds to the SE before heading S once again and emptying into the Solway (NY 25483 64419). Two further canalised lengths of burn also enter the Solway further to the WNW (NY24347 64996 to NY24317 64913; NY 24831 64866 to NY 24796 64753), but these can only be traced for a short distance NNE into the Depot.
Artificial drainage was introduced into the Nitroglycerine Hills (NY26NW 16.01-05) during the First World War on account of the boggy ground to the N of buildings clustering around the Nitrator Separator Houses. This network of short, straight watercourses continued to be employed during the Second World War and later (Ordnance Survey Explorer 1:25000 map, 2015, sheet 314).
At the outbreak of the Second World War, earth was moved from an area that is roughly rectangular on plan situated to the SE of the future site of Explosives Magazine R61 (NY26NW 46.12). This excavation measured 170m from W to E by 55m transversely and is clearly shown on an aerial photograph (M124/13 04122), flown on 19 August 1940. Apart from a coverage of vegetation, it remained unchanged for at least 50 years, but was subsequently extended and flooded to form a lake.
There is also a deep-cut drain crossing the S part of the Retort House North (NY26SW 38.11). This also appears to be relatively recent, but it drains SSW into an earlier watercourse.
Visited by HES Heritage Recording (MMD and ATW), 22 July 2022.
