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Poster for a past Zine workshop which took place in June 2021.

Zine Making Workshop

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Join us at this youth workshop to create a Zine about the life of the Gretna Girls with all the materials you need included!

Zines are DIY magazines that contain words, images, artwork and much, much more! Originating in the 1930s, Zines became a counter-cultural phenomenon in the 1980s, when riot girls rallied against sexism in punk culture in their Zines. More recently the hit Netflix movie ‘MOXIE’ has again brought Zines to the fore.

 

The girls and women who worked at HM Factory Gretna may have lived in a time before Zines, but they too faced hardship, danger and sexism whilst working in explosives in WW1. They also left us art and poems in their autograph books, and in the end of war magazines, the Mossband and Dornock Farewell. Using these and other documents in The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s archives, this Zine workshop will use imagined history to make the Gretna Girl’s come to life!

 

All you need is yourself, a creative outlook and some big ideas to take part in this fun workshop.

 

Pre-book your place on eventbrite here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/zine-making-workshop-tickets-156666891891?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Mossband House with the Mossband Clock. This is an archive photo.

Mossband Clock Unveiling

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Look out for a Facebook live event happening Wednesday November 11th at 9.15am unveiling the new Mossband Clock display.

 

Last week the Museum was closed to install a major new display, the Mossband Clock. You might remeber seeing this clock on Mossband house until its demolition several years ago. Mossband House was the central HQ of HM Factory Gretna. The clock was the only part of the building that was saved when the house was demolished.

 

 

The Facebook live event will start at 9.15am on Wednesday morning, if you are interested in watching this event the link to our Facebook page is below:

https://www.facebook.com/devilsporridge/

Roundabout near Gretna Gateway. This photo is from the past.

Old Gretna Drop-in Session

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A chance to talk with Judith Hewitt, Manager of The Devil’s Porridge Museum about objects in the Museum collection.  Judith will showcase maps, photographs and objects relating to Gretna in World War One.  Come along if you’d like to take a look and discuss any aspect of local history with her.

Halloween activities at The Devil's Porridge Museum in 2020.

October Activities at the Museum

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We are now doing activities during the October holidays!

 

The Activities will run in a two week block with the first week being called history week with the clubs being themed around history and the second week will be themed around Halloween with the week finishing with the Halloween Haunted House (booking required) . The activities throughout the week are all drop in sessions (no need to book) which will last for 10-15 minutes which allows children time to regroup with their families going around the Museum etc. The full list fo activities is below.

If you would like any more information on the holidays activities or if you would like to book a space for the Halloween Haunted House please email: steven@devilsporridge.org.uk or phone: 01461 700021.

Photo of The Devil's Porridge Museum with the words summer clubs moved online.

A whole summer of fun with the Devil’s Porridge Museum

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The Museum may be closed but that doesn’t me you can’t have fun.

Everyday from now until the end of August, the Devil’s Porridge Museum has a different fun, exciting and engaging activity for you.

 

Monday: Look out for a new DPM podcast or Young Historians video on our website or YouTube channel.

Tuesday: Get creative with a fun Arts and Crafts activity.

Wednesday: Enjoy a story, song and rhyme at 9:30am as Bookbug takes over our Facebook and goes live.

Thursday: Need a History fix? Check out our Young Historian Fact File with a new topic covered each week.

Friday: Relax with Colour, Draw, Paint! A new activity each week.

Saturday: Find out what is happening in our Dig for Victory garden and see a gardening project you can do at home.

Sunday: Let’s Bake is Back – easy to follow recipes, fun for all the family.

 

SO ARE YOU READY FOR A SUMMER OF FUN?

Graphic concerning a short documentary film challenge from The Devil's Porridge Museum in 2020.

Documentary Film Challenge

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Calling all young film makers!

Ever fancied ago at making a documentary? Love the Devil’s Porridge Museum?

Well we have the challenge for you!

follow the 5 simple steps in the video below and make your own Devil’s Porridge Documentary from home. Then send your film to steven@devilsporridge.org.uk for your film to feature on our YouTube channel and maybe even see it shown in the museum!

 

Some children's artwork on a wall in The Devil's Porridge Museum.

The Devils Porridge Online Events

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While the Museum is closed we have decided to run some of our Kids Clubs online, these clubs will be broadcast on Facebook live or just posted as a video on Facebook around the time tha. In addition to our online Book Bug sessions we are also going to be running other weekly online activities . On Tuesday afternoons we will be posting an Arts and Crafts video taking viewers through each step in different craft project each week, Wednesday morning at 9.30 our Facebook live book bug sessions will take place, on Thursday afternoons as part of our Young Historians Club a new history activity sheet will be made available on our website and through a link on our Facebook page and on Friday afternoon via our Facebook page we will either have colouring activities or a drawing workshop video.

 

Tuesdays – Posting an afternoon Arts and Crafts video taking viewers through each step in different crafts projects each week.

Wednesdays – Tune into our Facebook live Bookbug session at 9.30am

 

Thursdays – For our Young Historians club a new history activity sheet will be made available on our website and on Facebook.

Fridays – On our Facebook page will have either colouring activities or a drawing workshop video.

Mother’s Day at the Museum

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The Devils Porridge – a great place for Mother’s Day

Why visit the Museum on Mother’s Day?

 

The central story of The Devils Porridge Museum concerns the 12,000 women who worked at HM Factory Gretna in World War One. This includes a look at the difficult and dangerous work they did, accidents and health caused by this work, their housing an living conditions, their social lives including dances, cinemas and societies as well as their notable achievements (some young women met the Kind and Queen, others were awarded MBE’s). The Museum also looks at the monitoring of the young women by the Women’s Police Force and how the role of women was altered by World War One.

Our first floor displays look at the impact of conflict on the Solway Coast from 1939 onwards. Find out about children who were sent to the countryside as evacuees, take a nostalgic look at a 1940’s house (complete with kitchen and rationing style foods) and explore the stories of women who worked in the ATS or in munitions in World War Two.

March is also Women’s History Month and the Museum would be a great place for mother’s to visit to discover the history of women at war in the local area.

Children love the Museum, In 2019, we were shortlisted for the ‘Most Family Friendly Museum in the UK’ award by Kids in Museums. Over 800 Museums were nominated and we made it to the final 15. There are dressing up opportunities, lots of things to interact and play with, touchscreens, audio-visual displays and games. We also have a virtual reality experience taking a look inside Scotland’s first ever nuclear power station – Chapelcross. All children visiting the Museum are given a clocking in card in which they can stamp as they visit and exchange for a reward at the end. With a children’s menu, baby changing facilities, high chairs and a lift, we are well set up for visitors of all ages and requirements.

One more great reason to visit us this Mother’s Day – a chance to treat your Mum to a delicious, homemade afternoon tea in our café. The Museum is 5 star rated and we use local ingredients in the café as much as possible. The afternoon tea will include delicious sandwiches along with a selection of sweet treats such as home-baked miniature cakes and biscuits all served with a vintage style tea service. Perfect for before, after or midway through your visit. If you want, you are welcome to just book for Afternoon Tea, you do not have to visit the Museum to take part in this experience.

Entry to the Museum is £6 per adult, £5 concessions (including children – a family ticket is also available for £15). Afternoon Teas must be booked in advance and cost £10.95 per person. To book your space, email: info@devilsporridge.org.uk or phone 01461 700021

Landgirl Film Project Premiere at Annan Lonsdale Cinema

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This takes place on the 10th of March at the Annan Lonsdale Cinema. Booking is essential! If you would like to book a place please phone: 01461 700021 or email: info@devilsporridge.org.uk

 

Hear the oral history of a Carlisle Landgirl from World War Two as filmed, edited and animated by local young people.

 

In World War Two, thousands of young women did their war work on the land. This film will focus on the experiences of Bettie (Photographed). She was a young girl in Carlisle when World War Two started and she spent most of the war in Cumbria working on different farms. Her film involves tales of cows, rat catching and mole baiting along with other wonderful experiences she had along the way .

 

This cinema screening is free to attend. There will be brief talks by those involved in the project as part of the evening as well.

 

With thanks to Annan Lonsdale Cinema for generously hosting this event.

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