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A radio on display in The Devil's Porridge Museum.

A Look Inside The Museum

By News

This display is the start of the timeline of the Second World War which is located on the top floor. This display follows on from a timeline of pre Second World War which explains the build up to the conflict.

 

The display includes a voice extract from Neville Chamberlin (who was Prime Minister at the time) when he took to the airwaves to announce to the country that Britain was at war with Germany. It also includes a quote from a local woman named Margaret Clark recalling the moment the announcement was made, “I was sitting at our kitchen table doing my homework and all of a sudden Big Ben struck and then Neville Chamberlin started to speak – our country was now at war. It was a very funny feeling, it was quite frightening really.”

Rumours of a new munitions factory at Gretna had been circulating since 1937.  In a strategic move the government decided to spread the risk by building a number of smaller factories. Three months after the war was announced, His Majesty’s Inspector of Explosives gave the go ahead to build Powfoot Munitions Factory on the Solway Firth, just 8 miles (12km) away from where the Museum is now.

 

The map below shows some of the key points which were used during the Second World War in the local area such as RAF Annan, ICI Powfoot and many of the homes used for evacuation of children.

A gas lamp.

1930’s Gas Lamp

By Collections blog

These types of gas lamps would have been typically used by people inside their houses from around 1928 to 1935 and were sold in America, the UK, France, Australia and Argentina. This lamp is a table lamp but there were also one which would be hung from the ceiling. Aladdin Industries (the maker of the model 12 gas lamp) also made vase lamps which would be used as a more decorative item than the traditional table lamp.

This is a gas lamp which was made from 1928 to 1939 in the UK and is a model 12 Aladdin gas lamp. The model 12 was a completely new model from the ground up. The model 12 lamp was the first to have optional paper shades as well as glass shades. The model 12 brought decorative glass shades into common usage.

The model 12 burner stayed in production until the early 1950’s to repair model 7 through 12 lamps for sale overseas. Aladdin Lamps were established in 1908 and are still making lamps today, now based in New Braunfels Texas

Annie Corrin

Annie Corrin – Gretna Girl

By Collections blog

Annie Corrin left Port S. Mary in the Isle of Man, and went to work at the Gretna plant when she was 19. She remained there from August 1917 until early 1919. She received roughly 15/- per week, after board and lodging had been deducted. Despite the fact that these wages were considered to be high for the period after she had sent money to her home she couldn’t afford to go to the cinema or dances in Carlisle or Dornock.

 

Eventually she was billeted in the Central Hotel, near Carlisle station, which had been commandeered for the munition workers. However, about six months later the hotel became a hospital for the war wounded and the girls were sent to the hostels in the Gretna township. These hostels were usually newly erected wooden huts, and the one she was sent to was called “Florence Nightingale Hostel”.

 

Work at the plant as based on a three shift system 7.00am – 2.00pm, 2.00pm – 10.00pm and 10.00pm – 7.00am.

 

Annie had initially been sent to work in the Cordite Section, and was provided with a mop cap, tunic and trousers. Her job was to separate large trays of Cordite, by taking a small handful and smashing the end, to separate the strands. The strands were then put into boxes, similar to fish boxes and weighed. After this procedure had been completed, the boxes were provided with lids which were then nailed down.

 

After six months, she was transferred to outside work in the Loading Sheds. She was provided with an oilskin coat, and sou’wester hat, for this work. She was instructed by a man called ‘Geordie’ into the best methods of lifting and loading the boxes of cordite sticks on to the trucks. The girls then pushed these trucks outside on rail tracks, for about a mile to another shed. Although she never found out what happened in these sheds she does remember that there were usually a couple of girls lying outside in  what appeared to be a drunk state, cause by exposure to cordite.

 

Early in 1919 Annie left the Gretna Plant and returned to the Isle of Man.

Quintinshill Signal Box

Quintinshill Signal Box

By News

A new object was put on display at the Museum over the Christmas break, it is a Caledonian Railway Type CRS4 from Quintinshill signal box. It was on display there for many years and can be seen below.

 

 

The Signal box (below) was opened in 1903 and had 45 levers. This object became the last operational CRS4 type box working the West Coast mainline between Gretna and Glasgow. The signal box closed in 1973 and control went to the Carlisle Signalling Centre.

 

 

If you would like to know more information about Quintinshill see one of our previous articles here: https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/ww1-bugle-from-quintinshill

Front cover of an events booklet from 2020.

Events at the Museum in 2020

By Events

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):

 

 

A group of people stood by the animals in war memorial outside The Devil's Porridge Museum.

Dickin Medal

By News

The Devils Porridge has a fantastic new item on loan – a Dickin Medal. The Dickin Medal was created by Maria Dickin, founder of the PDSA in 1943 to recognise the brave contributions made by Animals in War. It has been awarded just 71 times – 31 dogs, 32 World War Two messenger pigeons, three horses and one cat have been awarded. The medal is on loan from the Royal Pigeon Racing Association (the RPRA) and is one of only three medals they have loaned from their collection across the UK. The medal commemorates ‘Dutch Coast’ a pigeon who delivered an SOS from a ditched air crew in 1942. The pigeon covered 288 miles in 7.5 hours. The entire crew were rescued as a result of this action.

“The Museum has a memorial outside to commemorate Animals In War” said Judith Hewitt, Museum Manager, “and last year members of our Young Historians Club worked with the RPRA and the Carlisle Animals In War group to curate an exhibition about all the animals who also served. We are delighted to be able to bring this rare object to our region and to share it with our visitors. It will go on display within the next few weeks and will offer something different for everyone (especially animal lovers) to see.”

A green house made out of plastic bottles.

Eco Greenhouse

By Events

Over the weekend February 8th and 9th The Devils Porridge Eco Club would like your help to build a bottle green house at the Museum.

Many hands make light work so whether you can help over both days or just have a spare half hour to come along 12 till 2 on Saturday and Sunday.

 

The green house will be made using empty 2 litre plastic juice bottles so if you have any empty bottles between now and the even bring them along or drop them off at the Museum. (we will need a lot).

 

As well as building the green house there will be plenty of other gardening jobs to be done as we strive to get our Dig for Victory garden ready for Spring.

WW1 Fireless Locomotive

By News

Outside The Devil’s Porridge Museum there stands a train, a fireless locomotive called Sir James, which was built and used in World War One. By the time it came to the Museum, it was in a rusty and poor state of repair.  The Museum spent a lot of time and money restoring the engine and it is now one of our most popular displays.

 

This engine was used to transport the ‘devil’s porridge’ paste through HM Factory Gretna (the greatest munitions factory on earth at that time, it stretched nine miles from Dornock in Scotland to Longtown in England).  The paste was made into cordite, a propellant in the English side of the Factory.  Cordite went inside all the bullets and shells used in World War One.

 

Sir James is an unusual locomotive.  It is powered by steam but there is no fire inside.  This was a safety precaution as the Factory produced explosive material and the train was used to transport it.  There was a genuine concern that there might be a major explosion (there were several fires and explosions here during World War One but the safety record was remarkably good given that 30,000 people worked at the Factory in total and we know of only twelve deaths directly attributable to accidents).

 

Sir James was built by Andrew Barclay of Kilmarnock, Scotland and in World War One, it would have been charged up with steam from an external boiler before setting off.   For these locomotives to work, it was necessary to have three charging stations en route to maintain pressure.  These ‘crazy green and brown patchwork’ camouflaged fireless locomotives could pull ten loaded wagons and return the empty wagons on one charge of steam.

At the end of the War, the Factory eventually closed and much of the machinery was sold off.  Sir James was sold in 1924 to the Metropolitan Electric Power Supply Company at Brimsdown Generating Station and then in 1975 to the Lakeland and Haverthwaite railway before joining us at the Museum and being restored to its former glory in 2011.

If you enjoyed this article you might be interested in the following items from our online shop…

HM Factory Gretna’s Unique Railway System Booklet

Sir James Postcard

A lady sitting in a wheelbarrow with a man pushing it. This is an archive photo.

Mystery Photos 2

By News

This is the second part of the mystery photos which the Museum has in its store which we know nothing about as we don’t know who is in the pictures or where they came from. The only thing we know about the photos is that the boat which they are occasionally pictured on is called the SS Avoceta.

 

One of our Volunteers Desray found these photos interesting while she was adding them to the Museums collections database. Desray chose this selection and said “They must have meant a lot to someone as they were put into an album and they are very nice”.

 

If you would like to see the last group of photos we made an article on see: https://www.devilsporridge.org.uk/mystery-photos

Menu for The Devil's Porridge Museum's Valentine's Dinner at The Devil's Porridge Museum on Friday 14th February 2020.

Valentines Day at the Museum

By News

Romantic Valentine’s Meal at the Museum

 

Fancy a romantic Valentine’s Dinner in intimate surroundings in our 5 star Museum?. Our top chef, Lynne-Marie will create a scrumptious three course meal for only £29.95 per couple. Each loving twosome will have their own dedicated space within the displays to provide a relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy your evening.

 

With only six tables to book at 6.30pm and 8pm, you can expect a really personal service. Tables can be booked by ringing the Museum on 01461 700021 or emailing: info@devilsporridge.org.uk. Booking is essential!!

 

Our menu us below. Couples should bring their own Prosecco/Champagne etc. Free soft drinks will be provided. Please ask about a personalised tour of the Museum conducted by one of out Expert Guides.

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