Gretna, Hm Factory, Eastriggs Explosives Factory, Acids Section, Oleum Storage Tanks

Canmore ID: 375143

Site Number NY26SW 38.46

NGR NY 24803 64926

Only a shallow depression in dense deciduous scrub woodland marks the former location of a battery of Oleum Storage Tanks which were situated 25m ESE of the Mannheim Oleum Plant (NY26SW 38.02). This is rectangular on plan and measures about 34m from NNE to SSW by 22m transversely and up to 0.6m in depth.

The site of the tanks is identified on the plan of works given in a Ministry of Munition Works report (MMW 1919, plan, 55) held in the National Archives, Kew, outlining the processes involved in the manufacture of the cordite propellant during the First World War at H.M. Factory, Gretna (Site 3, Eastriggs). They are dimly visible within a photographic panorama in this report, but there is a description of a blueprint (SUPP 10-20 3727), blueprints (SUPP 10-27 3727, 3802) and ground-based contemporary official photographs taken during and after construction (MUN 5-297 pt2 298, 305; MUN 5-297 pt5 710) held by the National Archives at Kew, which provide additional information. These sources indicate that there were 20 tanks in two banks of ten, positioned on high brick walls, the whole being accessed by a framework of gantries. Four of the tanks contained 95% sulphuric acid from the Gaillard Towers (NY26SW 38.26), eight 20% oleum from the Mannheim Oleum Plant (NY26SW 38.2) and eight 98% sulfuric acid from the Acid Mixing House (NY26SW 38.17).

This battery of tanks fell into lot 506, which was offered for sale by auction on 22-5 July 1924 (HM Treasury 1924, 100), when the lot was purchased by Messrs James Jackson & Co Ltd, St Vincent Street, Glasgow (Carlisle City Archives, DX 2040/3). After their removal from the site, only their foundations were left in place and these are readily visible on an aerial photograph (M124/13 04144) flown on 19 August 1940.

Visited by HES Heritage Recording (MMD and ATW), 7 April 2022