The Devil's Porridge Museum

@devilsporridge

We tell the incredible WW1 story of HM Factory Gretna, the greatest munitions factory on Earth. Eastriggs and Gretna Heritage Group SCIO. SCN SC031616

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The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· 13d

👚💍Cotton blouses, a pillow and a gold ring are three items that munitions worker, Margaret Alice Laidlaw was accused of stealing. She's also this week's Worker of the Week. Find the full story in our latest Worker of the Week blog: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-th... #WorkeroftheWeek

Some cotton clothing folded up on a wooden chair. There is a green curtain in the background.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· 20d

Can anyone recognise the place on this postcard? We think this week's Worker of the Week, William Boustead, might have. William lived in Carlisle for most his life, he seems to have worked at H.M. Factory Gretna. He also repaired shoes. www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-william-boustead

A postcard of Botchergate in Carlisle. There are some tall buildings with people stood on the road between them and some tram lines. This is a black and white photo from the past. Underneath this is a handwritten note which reads "how do you like this view? One you collecting?"

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· 21d

Have you heard what happened 102 years ago today? 🤔 On this day (22nd July 1924) H.M. Factory Gretna and the "townships of Gretna and Eastriggs and the Mossband, Longtown and Dornock areas" were put up for public auction. The auction had 607 lots, ranging from a cinema to a glycerine distillery.

A glass display case with auction books inside. A information panel titled "The Sale of the Century" and The Mossband Clock is in the background.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· 22d

Our Dog Friendly Trial Week went well! So, we're having a two Dog Friendly Days every week! On Thursdays & Sundays, well-behaved, dry, dogs on leads will be welcome into our museum with their humans. Remember to check all the details before you visit: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/dog-friendly-days

A dog peering around a wall in a garden.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· 23d

Would you like some poetry for International Moon day? "Bless my life! What's this I see? If it isn't a little EVACUEE Don't be afraid when it's dark at night. They simply can't put out my light." Now... if you had to sing this poem what tune would you use? #MoonDay #InternationalMoonDay

A postcard featuring an illustration of a crescent moon with a face, bow tie and hat. A child in a red dress is reaching up towards the moon. The silhouette of a town is in the background. Under the child is a poem which reads "Bless my life! What's this I see? If it isn't a little EVACUEE. Don't be afraid when it's dark at night. They simply can't put out my light."

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· 26d

On this da in 1944 the decision was made to abandon RAF Annan. In it's heyday, RAF Annan could boast a staff of 400 RAF personal across its 200-acre site. It's main focus was training young fighter pilots in offensive attacks. Sadly, young pilots died during their time training at RAF Annan.

A display inside The Devil's Porridge Museum titled no ordinary airfield. There is a RAF uniform in a glass display case.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· 28d

Did you know a Murchison medal winner worked at H.M. Factory Gretna? 🏅 Frederick Murray Trotter received the medal in 1956, due to his Geology work. In WW1 he worked as a Royal Engineers' dispatch rider & at H.M. Factory Gretna www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-frederick-murray-trotter

Frederick Murray Trotter wearing a suit and his eyepatch. Photo source: The British Geology Survey Heritage website.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· 29d

Remember that time the government took control of all the pubs in Carlisle and district? 💭🍻 Our latest exhibition is all about The State Management Scheme. Thanks to everyone who made this possible. Learn about our current exhibition: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/category/exh...

Poster for a Summer 2026 exhibition at The Devil's Porridge Museum. This reads: "When the state took over the pubs. Discover the fascinating story of why the government took control of all the pubs in Carlisle and district why they made the beer weaker and the pubs drab. Find out how they closed hundreds of drinking dens and engaged a man to design fifteen new model inns and set the standard for pubs throughout the country and finally how it all ended. The poster includes photos and illustrations of State Management Pubs from the past, some state management bears, labels, some photos of people in the past, a newspaper article and the front page of a document called A Bill.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jul 13

We have a plan. It's for Eastriggs Post Office. 📮 Eastriggs & Gretna were originally built to house the workers of H.M. Factory Gretna in WW1. As part of these townships, shops, leisure facilities and more were built for the munitions workers. This includes Eastriggs Post Office. #EYAArchitecture

A page from a magazine showing architectural drawings of Eastriggs Post Office from every angle, including floorplans of inside. To the lower left of this is a black and white photo of a brick building with the words Eastriggs Post Office above the door.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jul 9

☀🫠 If it gets a bit too warm out there today, here's your friendly reminder that: ❄️The Devil's Porridge Museum has air conditioning, 🤩free drop in Air Raid Day activities today, 🍦and we sell ice cream. Many other museums are cool places to visit this time of year too. 😎

A family of two adults and two children gathered around a nitrating pan. There hands are inside the pan. In the background is a video, some text, shells and books in display cases. This is inside The Devil's Porridge Museum.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jul 8

The 11th times Great Granddaughter of King Edward 4th of England, Bryde Johnstone-Douglas, worked at H.M. Factory Gretna. We do have this photo of her. Unfortunately, it is a bit dark... (Anyone got some night vision googles? 🤣) www.devilsporridge.org.uk/brydejonnstone-douglas #WorkeroftheWeek

A page from "The Gentlewoman." This features an article of text and two photos. One of these should feature Miss Bryde Johnstone-Douglas. However, the photos are both so dark that no details are visible.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jul 7

We have some FREE family Coding Workshops for 8 to 12 year olds on Tuesday 21st July 2026. Booking is essential for these workshops. Learn more and book your place here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/family-codin...

An iPad held in two hands and a iPad with colourful dots on it.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jul 5

We have a selection of free drop in activities during the school holidays this year. Whether you're looking for family friendly activities, to discover a new hobby, or chilling at Zentangle Drawing session, you'd be welcome to join us. 😎 www.devilsporridge.org.uk/category/eve...

Poster for Free Family Summer Holiday Fun at The Devil's Porridge Museum. This reads "drop in and join us any time between 11am to 12.30pm or to 3.30pm for the following activities: Air Raid Day on Thursday 9th July 2026, Beside the Seaside on Friday 10th July 2026, Badge Making Day on Tuesday 14th July 2026, Interactive Storytelling and Clay Modelling on on Wednesday 22nd July 2026, Poster Printing and Zany Zines on Wednesday 29th July 2026, Mini Treasure Boxes on Thursday 5th August 2026 and Tinted Postcards and Watercolour Scenes on Thursday 13th August 2026. Free family events. Admission prices do apply to anyone wishing to look around our museum."

Poster for a Zentangle Drawing workshop on Thursday 6th August 2026. Join us for a session of mindfulness and drawing as you discover Zentangles, repeating patterns which can be viewed from any angle! Drop in and join us any time between 11am and 12:30pm or 2pm to 3.30pm. All ages welcome for a free chilled drawing session. These activities are free, but please be aware admission prices apply to anyone wishing to look around The Devil's Porridge Museum.

Poster for Warhammer Taster Day on Tuesday 28th July 2026. Discover this hobby packed with amazing armies and weird creatures. Have a go at building and painting a miniature figure and join in with some tabletop battles, which will be underway throughout the day. We have activities for Warhammer Age of Sigmar and Warhammer 40,000! Drop in and join us any time between 11am and 12.30pm or 2pm to 3.30pm. This activity is FREE, but please be aware admission prices apply to anyone wishing to look around The Devil's Porridge Museum.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jul 4

72 years ago today food rationing in Britain came to an end. 🥳🕺💃 During WW2, rationing was introduced to ensure everyone had access to food & other items in short supply. What would be the first thing you'd choose to eat after food rationing ended? 🤔

Display inside The Devil's Porridge Museum which is designed to look like a 1940s house. This contains some information about rationing during World War Two. There is a photo of a child eating a carrot.

A selection of booklets from WW2, including a ration book, an ID card and "what a British soldier wants to say in French" guide.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jul 1

Did you know that the inventor of Vegemite worked at H.M. Factory Gretna? 🤩 Cyril Callister worked as a chemist at the factory, before creating Vegemite. We've chosen him as this Week's Worker of the Week... although his blog post was written in July 2021. www.devilsporridge.org.uk/cyrilcallister

Two pieces of toast with vegemite on and a cartoon illustration of a Vegemite jar.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 30

Our FREE Interactive Lego Robot Workshops are back! This will be for 8 to 12 years old on Thursday 16th July 2026... and this time there's two of them! Booking is essential for these workshops. Learn more and book your place: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/interactive-... #ThrivingCommunity

Three robots made out of Lego. One is humanoid in shape with two legs and eyes. One has wheels and another is snail like. The robots are on a white circle shape. Some Lego is in the background.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 26

On This Day (26th June) in 1915 the Minister of Munitions & future Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, authorised the construction of munitions factory, H.M. Factory Gretna. Find out more about this factory & the 30,000 people who worked there by visiting us. (Plus, we have air conditioning.🫠)

Sub-station number 1 on site 3 of H.M. Factory Gretna being built in 1916. This is an archive photo from the past.

Site III (Building 3E) the Nitric Acid Still House from H.M. Factory Gretna. There are railways tracks on either side of a mound of soil. Wagons are on the railway track to the left and some people are walking near the right track. This is an archive photo from 1916.

Site III Grillo Oleum Plant looking West at H.M. Factory Gretna. This includes the frame of some buildings and two rudimentary cranes. Some timber huts are in the background. This is an archive photo from 1916.

Site III N/G Hill 2. Examination bag house at H.M. Factory Gretna. There are some people standing near some train track to the right. Three more people are digging with shovels in front of the Examination Bag house building. Another person is sat at a bench in the background. This is a black and white image from 1916.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 25

Have you ever tried making your own badges? Join us on Tuesday 14th July 2026 for our FREE Badge Making Day Activities. You will discover some of the badges that were given out at H.M. Factory Gretna and try making two different styles of badges. ⭐️ www.devilsporridge.org.uk/badge-making-workshop

Some triangle On War Service badges and round Women's Police Force Badges for H.M. Factory Gretna on display inside a display case.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 24

Did you know the father of one of H.M. Factory Gretna's Women's Police Officers, Marjorie Beryl Pearse, designed posters for the women's suffragette movement? You can find out more about Marjorie here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-marjorie-beryl-pearse #WorkeroftheWeek

A collage of four photos. These are a gold coloured Ministry of Munitions Women's Police Force badge, an archive photo of H.M. Factory Gretna's Women's Police Force arranged in rows in front of a hostel, another archive photo of members of the Women's Police Force stood in smart rows in front of a hostel and a gold Women's Police Force Badge. The two badges are circle shaped with a crown on top and the letters G R in the middle.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 23

On Thursday 9th July 2026, you can join us for Air Raids Day. Make your own gas mask, practice your air raid drill & much more! You'd be welcome to drop in and join us for either the morning or afternoon session of this family friendly activity. Learn more: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/air-raids-day

A selection of World War Two items arranged on a table. These include a National Dried Milk Tin, ration books, Dig for victory leaflets and wartime cookery books. There is also resources to make World War Two evacuee labels.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 23

You've been asking. We've heard you. 🐾 We know dogs are a big part of many families, so we're having a dog friendly trial week at The Devil's Porridge Museum! From Monday 29th June to Sunday 5th July 2026 well-behaved, dry, dogs on leads will be welcome into our museum with their humans! 🎉

A man wearing a suit holding a small dog. This is a black and white archive photo from the past.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 21

Did you know that Arthur Parkin named his daughter, Gretna, after a Scottish township? (No prizes for guessing which one.😂) She became a renowned scientist & Arthur was a chemist at H.M. Factory Gretna, so we thought it would be perfect to share for Father's Day. You could visit us to celebrate.

Arthur Parkin wearing a suit in a oval shaped portrait. This is a black and white photograph from the past.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 17

🔮 Fake clairvoyants beware! 😂 Mabel Alice Read went undercover to catch a false clairvoyant and that was after working in H.M. Factory Gretna’s women’s police… Also she got a medal. Read more about her here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/mabelaliceread #WorkeroftheWeek

Mabel Alice Read stood in a police uniform being awarded a medal by a mayor. This is a black and white photo from the past.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 16

We were going to say we’ll show you our spoon if you show us yours… but people already asked… 💔 In case your spoon is lonely, here’s ours anyway. Maybe in another universe they would have shared a cutlery draw. 🥹 Ours is an ICI Spoon. 🥄 ICI Powfoot was a munitions factory near us in WW2.

A metal spoon with ICI engraved in a circle on its handle. There are two wavy lines underneath the letters ICI inside the circle.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 16

Have you heard about our Cordite Club? 🤔 This a lunchtime club for local retirees at The Devil’s Porridge Museum. We were delighted to be joined by them yesterday. Thanks to everyone involved! Our next Cordite Club is Monday 29th June 2026. ☀️ Learn more: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/cordite-club

Members of The Devil’s Porridge Museum’s Cordite Club sat around tables watching and listening to a member of the museums team who is stood giving a talk. This is happening in The Devil’s Porridge Museums education room.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 10

From H.M. Factory Gretna to ocean liners! 🛳️ Lottie Moore worked in the Women’s Police Officer at H.M. Factory Gretna and later became a stewardess. She’s also this week’s Worker of the Week! Find out more about Lottie and her travels here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-lottie-moore

Members of H.M. Factory Gretna’s Women’s Police Force stood in neat rows in front a timber hut. There is a sign which reads Women’s Police Barracks Number 3. This is a black and white archive photo from the past.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 8

When King George V came to visit H.M. Factory Gretna on 18th May 1917, Betty was given the honour of helping the King change his shoes. After she was presented with the engraved shoe horn. Betty McGeechan's name was misspelt on the shoe horn, but she still treasured it & her family continue to!

A metal shoehorn with an engraving on it. The engraving reads "used by his majesty King George on the occasion of the royal visit to Gretna explosive factory 18th May 1917. Betty McGeachan F.W". Betty McGeechan's name is spelt incorrectly on the engraving.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 8

Would you like to see a shoe horn used by King George V? 👞👀 Some relatives of a Elizabeth McGreechan, a H.M. Factory Gretna worker, kindly took the time to share some information about her. They told us that Elizabeth (known as Betty) worked as the forewoman at the factory.

Elizabeth MGreechan stood in her munitions workers uniform in front of a fence. There are some shell casings in the background. This is a black and white photo kindly shared by her relatives.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 3

You've probably heard of going from rags to riches, but have you heard of going from a domestic servant to policewomen? 👮‍♀ This week's Worker of the Week is Alice Maud Trent did just that! Find out more about her: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-alice-maud-trent #WorkeroftheWeek

Alice Maud Trent wearing a police uniform. We think this could be her H.M. Factory Gretna Women's Police Force Uniform. This is a black and white photo from Ancestry Public member tree.

The Devil's Porridge Museum@devilsporridge· Jun 2

Have you heard that it's Volunteer's Week? Here at The Devil's Porridge Museum we have an awesome team of volunteers! They welcome you into our museum, research, help in our collections, with events or educational visits, in our garden, Café and more. We would like to say thank you to them all. 👏