Gretna, Hm Factory, Eastriggs Explosives Factory, Nitroglycerine Compound

Canmore ID 374945

NY26SE 17.01

NY 2673 6428 (centred)

Only two small fragments of moss- and grass-grown concrete flooring (NY 26723 64310, NY 26782 64330) mark the former location of the Nitroglycerine Compound which serviced the five Hills. This was situated 100m SW of explosives magazine R49 (NY26NW 46.12) and immediately E of a T-junction between the E-W road and a road running SE.

The structures associated with the Compound are referred to very briefly in the text referring to the works (MMW 1919, 146) 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). This indicates that the compound was surrounded by a wire fence guarded by the Military, enclosing mess rooms, changing rooms, a First Aid facility, rest rooms and offices. The gates were manned by the factory police who searched for matches, tobacco and other forbidden articles. An undated plan (SUPP 10-39) held in the National Archives at Kew shows that the compound measured about 212m from ENE to WSW by 66m transversely overall. None of the aforementioned functions are attributed specifically to the buildings shown on the plan. The NNW gates (NY 26688 64313) can be readily distinguished as they adopt the same form as those near the NW corner of the Factory (NY26NW 97). In addition, the SSE gates can also be recognised as they are linked to the former by a road. The remaining buildings are located in two ranges, 12m apart. The NNW range is divided into two parts, each located either side of the road running NNW-SSE. The ENE building in this range (NY 26734 64305) is roughly rectangular on plan and measured about 90m from ENE to WSW by 19m transversely overall. At least part of this building was two-storeyed. Its WSW companion (NY 26670 64279), which was also roughly rectangular on plan, measured about 26m from ENE to WSW by 12m transversely. The SSE range was also divided into two parts, each once again being roughly rectangular on plan. The ENE building (NY 26751 64282) measured about 208m from ENE to WSW by 18m transversely, while its counterpart on the far side of the road measured 30m from ENE to WSW by 20m transversely. A fifth building (NY 26785 64319) which was situated immediately ENE of both ranges was also roughly rectangular on plan and measured about 26m from NNW to SSE by 10m transversely overall. At least part of this building was two-storeyed. A sixth (NY 26733 64334) straddled the fence NNW of the more northerly range and in addition, there was a string of six small buildings (centred NY 26633 64270) which continued the line of the more northerly range further to the WSW. A further building was situated about 10m SSE of the Compound and 43m ENE of the road junction. A blueprint (SUPP 10-27, 3798A) and a ground-based, contemporary official photograph taken during construction (MUN 5-297 pt2, 333), held at the National Archives at Kew, provides a little additional information about the character of the buildings. However, the photograph has a foreshortened perspective and although difficult to interpret shows that the buildings were largely one-storey and were constructed of brick with ridged roofs. It also indicates that the roof of the S range was fitted with two rows of skylights on the NNW and describes them as ‘Welfare Buildings’.

This compound (‘Broomhills Compound Buildings’) was offered for sale by auction as part of lot 492 on 22-5 July 1924 (HM Treasury 1924, 90; Carlisle City Archives, DX 170/38), when it was purchased by Adam and Brown (Carlisle City Archives, DX 2040/3). The accompanying description in the catalogue indicates that it comprised an Enquiry Office, Dressing Rooms, Clocking Rooms, fitted changing rooms, Mess Rooms, Kitchens and Sculleries together with a brick-built, slate-roofed hospital and several other smaller buildings. All the buildings in the Compound are shown to have been largely intact on an aerial photograph (M124/13 04135) flown on 19 August 1940, but the most easterly section of the SSE range had already lost its roof. A later aerial photograph (USN/219/206 0007) flown on 26 July 1963 shows that this section of that building had been wholly removed, while the two gatehouses, much of both ranges and the smaller buildings to their WSW had also been demolished. Only the building situated immediately ENE of both ranges, the more easterly section of the NNW range, part of the SSE range adjacent to the gatehouse and the building that originally straddling the fence still survived. An aerial photograph (39/RAF/4701 P0026) flown on the 6 May 1975 shows that only small patches of concrete flooring remained visible.

Visited by HES Heritage Recording (MMD and ATW), 22 July 2022.