Gretna Hm Factory Eastriggs Factory, Acids Section, Acids Compound, Platinising Lab

Canmore ID 375170

Site Number NY26SW 38.47

NGR NY 24448 65116

Nothing now remains visible of this laboratory building which has been entirely overlaid by the SE corner of the bund surrounding Explosives Magazine R5 (NY26NW 46.12).

The building is identified as a Platinizing Laboratory on the plan of works given in a Ministry of Munition Works report (MMW 1919, plan, 53-4) 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).The building was rectangular on plan and measured about 24m from WNW to ESE by 17m transversely. A description of a blueprint (SUPP 10-32 15118) and a blueprint (SUPP 10-34 15372(?)) held by the National Archives at Kew, illustrate the general character of the building, which was a single storey, two bay, brick-built structure with a corrugated iron sheet roof, each span being capped by a ventilator. The interior was divided into two compartments, a furnace-room situated in the WNW section of the building and a laboratory. The converter-mass, in the form of treated asbestos mats, was produceded here from Magnesium Sulphate. These were used for the conversion of sulphur dioxide to sulphur trioxide in the Grillo Oleum Plant.

The building was offered for sale by auction as part of Lot 504 on 22-25 July 1924 (HM Treasury 1925, 95 item 10); Carlisle City Archives DX 170/38), when it was purchased by Messrs. J. Jackson & Co. Ltd of St Vincent Street, Glasgow (Carlisle City Archives DX 2040/3). After its removal only the foundations were left and these are visible on an aerial photograph (M124/13 04127) flown on 19 August 1940.

Visited by HES Heritage Recording (MMD and ATW), 6 April 2022