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Coronation Crown Making activity poster for an event at The Devil's Porridge Museum in June 2022.

Platinum Jubilee Celebration

By Archive

Join us to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee at The Devil’s Porridge Museum!

 

Friday 3rd June 2022

Coronation Crown Making

Join us to make a free paper crown to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee.

Places are limited. Book your place by phoning: 01461 700021

 

Monday 30th May – Sunday 5th May

Free Colouring In

Young people visiting The Devil’s Porridge Museum or eating in the cafè during the Jubilee week will recieve some free colouring in, while supplies last.

We would be delighted to see some of your completed colouring. You can share it with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Book your visit to The Devil’s Porridge Museum online here>

 

 

The Extraordinary Life of the Drummond Sisters online talk poster

The Extraordinary Life of the Drummond Sisters.

By Archive

24th May 2022.

The Extraordinary Life of the Drummond Sisters: From Queen Victoria to HM Factory Gretna.

Book your place and learn more here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-life-of-the-drummond-sisters-from-queen-victoria-to-hm-factory-gretna-tickets-328938863997?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

We’re delighted to announce our first event that is happening both in person at The Devil’s Porridge Museum and online on Zoom. Tickets cost £3.

Hear the story of the god daughter of Queen Victoria who became the first female Marine Engineer in Britain and the first woman to be accepted into the Institute of Marine Engineers.

From a quiet early life at Megginch Castle Perth-shire she went on to serve an engineering apprenticeship in Perth & Dundee, overcoming the early prejudice of the engineering world to sail as 2nd Engineer on both Arctic and Atlantic convoys during World War 2 receiving commendations for her action under enemy fire.

With her sister Jean, who had worked at the munitions factory at Gretna during World War One producing ‘The Devil’s Porridge’, she also established the ‘Victoria Drummond Canteen’ in Lambeth which provided food to victims of the London Blitz throughout World War Two.

The Extraordinary Life of the Drummond Sisters talk will be given by Neil McGarva, who as well as spending 40 years working in the Nuclear Industry has also been involve with the Devil’s Porridge Museum since it started 25 years ago as a small exhibition in a local church, and is currently the museum secretary.

If you chose to attend The Extraordinary Life of the Drummond Sisters talk online the Zoom link will be sent out on the day.

Tickets for those who choose to attend the talk in person at The Devil’s Porridge Museum will be sent out on the day.

Some of the Easter chicks created by young people!

Easter Egg-citement at the Museum.

By Archive

There’s been lots of Easter Egg-citement this year with a variety of activites for young people happening at The Devil’s Porridge Museum.

The Easter Egg-citement started on Monday 4th April 2022 and ran until Monday 18th April 2022.

Our first Easter event was Chocolate Creations were young people made their own chocolate nests. It created some very tasty results!

Take a look at in our gallery of photos for this below.

The next bit of our Easter Egg-citement was Crafting Creatures, were young people made lambs and chicks. We love how creative some of the results from this are!

Take a look at some of them below.

In spring our Spring Bag Printing Workshop with local artist Jack O’Hara young people made their own design and used it to decorate a drawstring bag.

Take a look at our gallery of them hard at work below.

We love the creative designs made by young people in our Easter Egg Painting workshops!

You can take a look at some of them in below.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for and those who helped with our Egg-cellent Easter Events this year!

You can read the full list of Easter activities that happened at The Devil’s Porridge Museum (including our Easter trail around the museum) here>

 

Egg-cellent Easter Events!

By Archive

Join us at The Devil’s Porridge Museum from Monday 4th April to Monday 18th April for a variety of egg-citing FREE Easter events for young people, which are perfect for 5-12 year olds!

Read more about our fun Easter events and activies below.

 

Monday 4th & 11th April

Chocolate Creations

10:30 am to 12 noon

Join us to make chocolate nests at The Devil’s Porridge Museum!

Places are limited. Book your place by phoning: 01461 700021

 

Tuesday 5th & 12th April

Crafting Creatures

1 pm – 2:30 pm

Join us at The Devil’s Porridge Museum to create baa-illiant lambs and pom pom chicks.

Places are limited. Book your place by phoning: 01461 700021

 

Wednesday 6th and 13th April

Spring Bag Printing

10:30 am to 12 noon.

Come along to The Devil’s Porridge Museum to create a spring themed design and print it on your own drawstring bag! With local artist Jack O’ Hara.

Places are limited. Book your place by phoning: 01461 700021

 

Thursday 7th & 14th April

Easter Bunny’s Story Time

10:30 am to 12 noon.

Hop along to The Devil’s Porridge Museum to enjoy some lovely stories with the Easter Bunny!

Places are limited. Book your place by phoning: 01461 700021

 

Friday 8th & 15th April

Egg-straordinary Egg Painting

1 pm to 2:30 pm.

Get creative at The Devil’s Porridge Museum and have a crack at egg painting! What egg-straordinary designs will you create?

Places are limited.Book your place by phoning: 01461 700021

 

Monday 4th to Monday 18th April

Egg-citing Easter Egg Hunt

This Easter young people can take part in a very egg-citing Easter egg hunt during their visit to The Devil’s Porridge Museum!

Can you track down all the colourful eggs around the museum and spell the word to earn your chocolate treat?

Booking online to visit the Museum is essential to avoid disappointment when we are busy. You can book your visit here: https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/product/tickets

Eastriggs Commonwealth Week 2022.

By Archive

Eastriggs the Commonwealth Village is coming together to celebrate Commonwealth Week from March 12th to March 19th 2022. A number of local organisations are coming together to put on an impressive array of activities over that period. Read more about all the events that will be happening below.

 

Saturday 12th March

Tractor Pull Challenge

10am – 12 noon and 2.00pm – 3.30pm

A Tractor Pull Challenge sponsered by SJ Barbers and Touch of Beauty will be happening at The Devil’s Porridge Museum. Why not come  and see how far you can pull it? There’s a £25 cash prize for both Ladies and Gents challenges.

Commonwealth Entertainment

7:30pm – 12:30am

At Eastriggs Social Club, featuring ‘Back2Back’ and Status Quo tribute Peter Kelly. Tickets £8 from the Club or The Devil’s Porridge Museum. There will be prizes for the best Commonwealth fancy dress!

 

Sunday 13th March

The Time Bandits

10am – 4pm

Learn all about life in World War One with living history performers The Time Bandits at The Devil’s Porridge Museum.

Booking online to visit the Museum is essential to avoid disappointment when we are busy. You can book your visit to the museum here: https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/product/tickets

 

Monday 14th March

Meet the Curator

6pm – 8pm

There will be a  FREE open evening at The Devil’s Porridge Museum where you can meet Emma Gilliland, the new Curator, and enjoy tastes of the Commonwealth.

 

Wednesday 16th March

Look out for MyPod Youth Bus!

 

Friday 18th March

Quizaoke

Starts 7pm at The Wayside Inn.

Your host for the evening is Harry H. Could you be the Eastriggs Commonwealth Champion? Followed by traditional karaoke – who will be voted the best male and female singers? £60 in prizes.

 

Saturday 19th March

Eastriggs Historic Commonwealth Games.

12 noon – 4pm

Free admission and fun for all the family at Melbourn park!

Poster of activities at The Devil's Porridge Museum from February half term in 2022.

Free February Half Term Fun!

By Archive

H.M Factory Gretna was the largest munitions factory in WW1 and with two brand new towns and thousands of workers, crime abounded! Put your detecting skills to the test this half term with a series of fun FREE activites for young people at The Devil’s Porridge Museum.

 

 

Fictional Felons.

Monday 14th February 1pm – 2:30pm.

Join Jo Clarke, author of ‘Libby and the Parisian Puzzel’ for a fun workshop on writing and learn all about H.M. Factory Gretna’s connection to Sherlock Holmes creator, Arthur Conan Doyle.

Learn more about Jo Clarke on her website here: https://jo-clarke.co.uk/

For children age 7 +

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. Call the museum on 01461 700021 to book your place.

 

 

Evening Explorers

Tuesday 15th February 5pm – 7pm.

Families with SEN (special education needs), including those on the autism spectrum disorder are invited to join us at a special late evening opening of The Devil’s Porridge Museum outside of our usual opening hours. With the gallery, sounds videos and interactives turnded off, you can explore the museum at a quiter time, free from the general public. You are also welcome to join in with any of the activities being delivered by the museum over February half term.

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. Call the museum on 01461 700021 to book your place.

 

Cartoon Club.

Wednesday 16th February 10:30am to 12pm.

Learn how to draw your favourite cartoon character or create your own comic stip. Find out about the marvellous adventures of Scotty-Dog Hamish McDuff & his family.

For children age 7+

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. Call the museum on 01461 700021 to book your place.

 

Arts and Crafts Club.

Thursday 17th February 3:30pm to 5pm.

Express your creativity to make something brand new! Join us to paint, draw and so much more at arts and crafts club!

For children age 5 – 12.

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. Call the museum on 01461 700021 to book your place.

 

Secrets and Disguises.

Friday 18th February 3:30pm – 5pm.

Do you think you have what it takes to guard H.M. Factory Gretna from German spies? Learn how to decode secret messages in invisible ink, dust for fingerprints and make your own book safe in this fun workshop.

For children age 7 +

BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. Call the museum on 01461 700021 to book your place.

 

I Spy.

All day, every day, all half term – just ask a member of staff for an activity sheet, during your visit to The Devil’s Porridge Museum!

Gretna Girl, Ruby, has just moved into Eastriggs to work at H.M. Factory Gretna, but her suitcase has gone missing! Can you find all her missing items and track down the theif so Ruby gets her stuff back? Look carefully at each of the museum’s displays to find Ruby’s belongings, charge the theif AND learn more about her life in WW1 as a munitions worker!

You can book your vist to The Devil’s Porridge Museum here: https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/product/tickets

The Fire Brigade at HM Factory Gretna.

Online Talks 2021

By Archive

Before the pandemic hit, the Devil’s Porridge Museum used to have a lively and varied programme of events and talks.  We’re now really pleased to be offering these online. We aim to have a talk once a month on a subject which links to local history or the themes of the Museum. All events are free.

Tickets now available for the following.

 

 

 

 

 

Nearly a decade! Fires and Firefighting at HM Factory Gretna

Monday 22nd November 2021

Book online on Eventbrite here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/nearly-a-decade-fires-and-firefighting-at-hm-factory-gretna-tickets-153631089725

Our presentation begins in October 1915 with the builders discussing fire insurance with HM Government and then we travel through to September 1925 with a large fire at Gretna just a few days after the brigade had been disbanded. Our journey will include looking at the men and women who fought fires, took part in competitions and ensured the safety of H M Factory, Gretna. We’ll see the vehicles, stations and uniforms used. Likewise details and photographs will show the diversity of incidents including travelling miles to assist local communities in areas where proper fire fighting apparatus and crews did not exist or were rudimentary. 

Gretna had different levels of fire teams ranging from the professional brigade through to the assistance offered by police officers, both male and female, military guards and officer workers. Within the factory area, all workers received basic training whilst others more in depth instruction. Some of these workers showed exceptional bravery and quite correctly were presented with awards and we’ll look at these. 

Unfortunately any explosive factory was a place of danger and accidents fatal and causing injury were common place. However that the workforce and residents in the purpose built townships and other accommodation also suffered from house fires and accidents including those caused on the railway and road. Ambulances based at fire stations attended to the injured, taking casualties to hospitals in Dumfries and Carlisle if the medical facilities within the factory could not cope. 

Lasting about 50 minutes, Nigel Crompton, MA’s presentation includes photographs, copies of maps and other documents relating to the fire brigade and fire fighting at HM Factory, Gretna. 

This event will be held via Zoom and a joining link will be sent on the day.

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

Old Gretna Drop-in Session

By Archive

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.

Front cover of an events booklet from 2020.

Events at the Museum in 2020

By Archive

The Devils Porridge are holding many events each month at the Museum this year. If you would like to know more information about these events you can see an overview below (more information will be on our Facebook page):

 

 

Two happy children outside The Devil's Porridge Museum.

Events at the Museum in February

By Archive

Events taking place at the Museum from Monday 17th of February to Sunday 23rd February. All of these activities are free and only the trip to the Riverside Museum in Glasgow on Saturday the 22nd requires booking. If you wish to book phone: 01461 700021, email: info@devilsporridge.org.uk or pop into the Museum during our opening hours. Drop in sessions can be joined at any time while the session is running and last as long as the activity takes.

 

Monday 17th February (11am – 2pm)

Warhammer Workshop and Painting Competition

 

Come along and find out all about Warhammer. We will have mini-games set up for beginners to learn and play as well as space for more experienced players to set up their own epic battles.

Paint and take home one of our Space Marines as part of the painting competition. All paints and models will be provided! There will also be space and paint for anyone looking to paint their own models.

Tuesday 18th February (11am – 2pm)

Pop in Poetry

 

Local artist and published poet Hugh McMillan will be running a series of drop in poetry workshops aimed at all ages.

Find out about WW1 poets and try your hand at writing some poetry of your own inspired by the Museums collection.

 

Wednesday 19th February (11am – 2pm)

Historical Arts and Crafts

 

Running along-side our imitation stained-glass project designing panels for our café renovation, drop into the learning zone and join Alison and Wendy to create your own imitation stained-glass window scene to take home and proudly display at home.

The imitation stained-glass project is a separate event and aimed at older crafters and adults.

 

Thursday 20th February (11am – 2pm)

Time Bandits Living History

 

Historical re-enactors from Time Bandits Living History will be visiting The Devils Porridge on this day.

With live performances throughout the day and a larger range of objects to be handled and explored the Time Bandits will be providing an insight into life on the home front and the roles of Women during World War One.

 

Friday 21st February (11am onwards)

Warhammer 40k Kill team Porridge Championship

 

The first ever Porridge Championship! Build your 40k kill team and battle your way through a series of missions against the other competitors. Prizes for the best painted army and most enjoyable competitor as well as our overall champion!

A painting area will also be provided for anyone adding any finishing touches to their army.

 

Saturday 22nd February (All day events)

Games Club

 

Our regular Devils Porridge Games Club will be running this day (10am – 11am for primary 6 and above 11am – 12noon open to all ages) but there will be different traditional games set up for families to play throughout the rest of the day.

Riverside Museum Trip to Glasgow (bus departs at 9.30 and returns at 4pm)

 

Join us for a free family day out to the Riverside Museum in Glasgow. Free return travel to the Museum and entry to the Museum is also free!

Riverside Museum is Glasgow’s award winning transport Museum. With over 3000 objects on display there’s everything from skateboards to locomotives, paintings to prams and cars to a Stormtrooper.

https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/venues/riverside-museum

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