Gretna, Hm Factory, Eastriggs Explosives Factory, Acids Section, Nitroglycerine And Denitrated Acids Storage

Canmore ID: 375016

NY26SW 38.27

NY 25025 64872

The remains of this building, which is overgrown by gorse, thorn and grass, is situated in dense deciduous scrub woodland about 27m WNW of the more westerly of the Gaillard Towers (NY26SW 38.26) and 34m SSW of the Gas Producers (NY26SW 38.29). It is rectangular on plan and comprises a concrete-skimmed brick floor measuring about 80m from WNW to ESE by 35m transversely within concrete footings spaced about 3m apart and distanced up to 2m from the edge of the concrete. Further concrete footings for steel stanchions running from WNW to ESE divide the building into two equal halves, while the foundations of a series of brick walls running from NNE to SSW and spaced 1.1m apart occupy the northern half of the interior and approach within 2m of its centre. Similar brick foundations also seem to have existed in the southern half of the building, but these are very much more poorly preserved.

The building is identified as a storehouse for Nitroglycerine and Denitrated Acids on the plan of, and in text referring to, the works (MMW 1919, plan, 97) 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). The Nitroglycerine spent acid was conveyed from the Hills (NY26SE 16.01-05) to this store by pipeline, where it was collected in large tanks supported on the brick walls, before being fed to the Denitrator Plant (NY26SW 38.28). Blueprints (SUPP 10-24 3666, 3667; SUPP 10-27 3775, 3802) held by the National Archives Kew and ground-based, contemporary official photo-graphs (MUN 5-297 pt1, 224; MUN 5-297 pt2, 282, 308; MUN 5-297 pt3, 472; MUN 5-297 pt5, 717) taken during construction also held at Kew show that the building was a single storey, steel-framed, double bay structure, with corrugated iron sheet cladding and ridge roofs capped by vents running its full length. The cladding extended only part-way down the sides of the building, leaving the lower section open to the elements.

The building fell into lot 508, which was offered for sale by auction on 22-5 July 1924 (HM Treasury 1924, 101), when the lot was divided between J. M. Temple, Blackhills, Eastriggs and Messrs James Jackson & Co Ltd, St Vincent Street, Glasgow (Carlisle City Archives, DX 2040/3). After its removal from the site, only the foundations 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), 11 May 2022.