Gretna, Hm Factory, Eastriggs Explosives Factory, Acids Section, Nitre Dryer

Canmore ID: 374400

NY26SW 38.13

NY 24858 65001

Little remains of a large building situated in dense deciduous scrub woodland immediately adjacent to the ESE side of the road running between it and the SSW Nitre Store (NY26SW 38.7). However, the foundations of a length of brick wall terminating at what may have been its former SW corner do survive. The ruins of a moss- and grass-grown flue running from its ESE corner towards the Retort Houses (NY26SW 38.11-12) is also extant. This measures 3.5m in width and about 0.5m in height. A small grass- and moss-grown concrete floor (NY 24850 64986) which is situated about 2.5m SSW of the large building is rectangular on plan and measures about 5m from WNW to ESE by 2.5m transversely.

The large building, which contained two Cummer Nitre Dryers, is shown on the plan of, and in text referring to, the works (MMW 1919, plan, 61) given in the report by the Ministry of Munitions of War outlining the processes involved in the manufacture of cordite propellant during the First World War at H.M. Factory, Gretna (Site 3). These machines dried the Nitrate before it was conveyed to the Retort Houses (NY26SW 38.11, NY26SW 38.12) by hand-pushed trolleys ascending to an upper floor in electric elevators (NY26SW 38.45). The building was rectangular on plan and measured about 24m from NNE to SSW by 21m transversely. Descriptions of blueprints (SUPP 10-22, 3933, 4214) and a blueprint (SUPP 10-25, 3292) held in the National Archives at Kew, together with ground-based contemporary official photographs (MUN 5-297 pt2, 307; MUN 5-297 pt3, 439, 450, 475; MUN 5-297 pt5, 717) taken during construction and also held at Kew, show a two bay, single storey, steel framed, corrugated iron sheet clad structure with ridge roofs capped by vents. It had a double door on the WNW close to the SW corner. In addition, a walkway at a high level ran between it and the cabin linking the two Retort Houses (NY26SW 38.11-12). The function of the smaller building is unknown.

These buildings fell into lot 507, which was offered for sale by auction on 22-5 July 1924 (HM Treasury 1924, 101, item 5). The lot was bought by Messrs James Jackson & Co Ltd, St Vincent Street, Glasgow (Carlisle City Archives, DX 2040/3). After the removal of the building from the site, only the foundations were left in place 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), 7 April 2022.