His Majesty's Factory, Gretna.
His Majesty's Factory, Gretna.
The 'Devil's Porridge' Exhibition.©
The 'Devil's Porridge' Exhibition.©
The Devil’s Porridge© Exhibition at Eastriggs accepts Group bookings from clubs, schools and coach companies.
Discounted entry is available for large groups of visitors. We can also open the exhibition outwith our advertised hours.
A Great Experience for Schools.
The Devil’s Porridge© Exhibition is an ideal venue for pupils studying the World War 1 and 2 curricula. Through the exhibition school children will experience what life was really like during the early twentieth century. Should you need further information, please contact George on 01576 203394.
For further information and to book groups, please phone The Devil’s Porridge© Exhibition direct on 01461 700021 or Sheila on 01461 40162.
Light refreshments are available
at the exhibition.
The exhibition premises are
‘Access for All’ friendly.
Large Groups Welcome.
Large Groups Welcome.
Our e-shop is now open stocking many exciting new products.
Join our Cordite Club!!!
Instructions on the Links & Forum page.
This amazing exhibition tells the story of the Greatest Munitions Factory on earth that was constructed on the Anglo-Scottish Border between Dornock in Scotland and Longtown in England. During 1915, Britain was at a disadvantage during the early part of the Great War through lack of a continuous supply of quality ammunition.
That is until 30,000 women and men came from all over the world to work in this massive factory, purpose built by the government on the northern shore of the Solway Firth, specifically to manufacture cordite, a smokeless explosive, usually made from nitro-glycerine and nitro-cotton. H. M. Factory, Gretna was part of David Lloyd George’s master plan to kick start munitions manufacturing in Britain during 1914-15.
What is the Devil's Porridge? When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, visited H. M. Factory, Gretna, one of the new National Factories, during 1916, he described the highly explosive paste which was being mixed by women, who worked in the factory, as the ‘Devil's Porridge.’ An appropriate name for the highly explosive mixture of nitro-glycerine and nitro-cotton. The dried paste, or Cordite, looked very similar to ‘uncooked spaghetti.’
Cordite was a highly explosive product and used as a propellant in shells and bullets. When the Cordite was ignited by the firing pin of the weapon the explosive force inside the barrel of the weapon forced the shell or bullet out of the barrel at high speed towards its target.
Devil's Porridge Exhibition.
Opening Times 2010.
We re-open on Good Friday 2nd April 2010, and close for
the season on the
31st October 2010.
We are
'Acccess for All'
friendly.
See the Devil's Porridge
on Andrew Marr's show
'The Making of Britain'.
Gretna Marriages!!!
Gretna Marriages!!!
Very near to Eastriggs is the 'Wedding Capital' of the World. Please feel free to visit our links page where you will find further links to weddine venues, cermonies, accommodation and the many extras that you may need for that very special day!
Yesterday
and
Today.
Yesterday
and
Today.
We invite you to have a wander down memory lane. We have put together a number of photo's from the past, and by matching the photo's from today, do you recognise any of them? we have set the slide show at 3 seconds between each slide. Enjoy!!
Joyce,
by Royal Appointment!!!!!
Read her amazing story!!!
Joyce,
by Royal Appointment!!!!!
Read her amazing story!!!
With the kind permission from the Annandale Observer.
Solway Firth photo's by Mr Jock Millar, Canonbie.
Copyright 2009 The Devil's Porridge ©
