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Gretna Hm Factory Eastriggs Factory, Acids Section, Acids Compound, Building

Building (First World War)

Site Name Gretna Hm Factory Eastriggs Factory, Acids Section, Acids Compound, Building

Classification Building (First World War)

Alternative Name(s) Hm Factory Gretna Site 3

Canmore ID 375033

Site Number NY26SW 38.42

NGR NY 25011 64994

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/375033

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Bluesky International Limited 2025. Public Sector Viewing Terms

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Administrative Areas

  • Council Dumfries And Galloway
  • Parish Dornock
  • Former Region Dumfries And Galloway
  • Former District Annandale And Eskdale
  • Former County Dumfries-shire

Activities

Field Visit (12 May 2022)

Canmore ID: 375033

NY26SW 38.42

NY 25011 64994

Nothing is visible of a building which was situated under dense deciduous scrub woodland in disturbed ground. Its site has been slighted by the standard gauge railway (NY26NW 46.24) running SSE towards the Transit Area (NY26NW 46.21).

The building is shown to have been located within the Acids Compound on the plan of the works given with the report (MMW 1919, plan) describing the processes involved in the manufacture of the cordite propellant at H.M. Factory, Gretna (Site 3). This factory was established by the Ministry of Munitions of War during the First World War. The building was roughly L-shaped on plan and measured about 33m from WNW to ESE by 23m transversely overall. 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 three-bay, single storey, brick-built structure with a ridged rubberoid roof. Each roof was capped by several vents and contained skylights of various kinds. The SSW side of the building was characterised by several doors and many windows.

This building formed part of lot 508 which was offered for sale by auction on 22-5 July 1924 (HM Treasury 1924, 101, item 3 (possible)), when the lot was partly purchased by J.M. Temple, Blackhills, Eastriggs and partly by Messrs James Jackson & Co Ltd, St Vincent Street, Glasgow (Carlisle City Archives, DX 2040/3). 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.

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