Eastriggs

infobox UK place
country = Scotland
official_name= Eastriggs
gaelic_name=
scots_name=
os_grid_reference= NY247662
latitude=54.985
longitude=-3.176
map_type=Scotland
population= 1,683 [cite web|publisher=Scotland's Census Results Online|title =Comparative Population Profile: Eastriggs Locality | url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/scrol/browser/profile.jsp?profile=Population&mainArea=eastriggs&mainLevel=Locality | date = 2001-04-29| accessdate =2008-09-03 ] (2001 census)
est. 1,790 [ [http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data Statistics from the gro-scotland.gov.uk site] Retrieved on 3 September 2008] (2006)
unitary_scotland= Dumfries and Galloway
lieutenancy_scotland= Dumfries
post_town= ANNAN
postcode_district = DG12
postcode_area= DG
dial_code= 01461
constituency_westminster= Dumfries and Galloway
constituency_scottish_parliament= Dumfries

Eastriggs is a village in the south of Dumfries and Galloway. It has a small number of shops, a restaurant, post office, public house, working men's club and a church. Eastriggs Primary School, which feeds to Annan Academy, acts as a communal centre, possessing a small library and providing consultation facilities for a weekly doctor's surgery.

Geography and administration

Eastriggs is built on generally flat land 10–20 metres above sea level.
Annan is about 3 miles (4.8 km) and Dornock 1 mile (1.6 km) to the west of Eastriggs, and Gretna is about 5 miles (8 km) to the east.1:50,000 OS map 85] They are each about 1–2 miles (1.6–3.2 km) north of the mud and sandbanks of the channel of the River Eden, which extends west into the Solway Firth.

Annan, Dornock, Eastriggs and Gretna are located on the B721, which runs parallel with, and is linked to the nearby A75. A railway line connecting Gretna and Annan passes through the disused Eastriggs railway station, for which there are plans to provide a smaller replacement once the upgrade from single to double tracks has been completed, enabling simultaneous passenger and freight traffic.

History

Situated in the parish of Dornock, Eastriggs appears to have taken its name from the farm, or farm house, known as "Eastriggs" that was located in the middle of what was to become the new township. Victorian OS Sheet 6] The only other buildings in the area, prior to World War I, being: a group of houses at Lowtherton (now North Road, Lowthertown); a parallel group on what is now the B721 road; an inn and a smithy where East Road joins the B721.

The Township of Eastriggs was created as a result of the shell and ammunition crisis of June 1915 which prompted the newly-founded Ministry of Munitions to create a new cordite-manufacturing facility.Ministry of Munitions of War, Preface]

Officially designated "H.M. Factory Gretna", the factory was spread over a 9-mile (14.4 km) site stretching from Dornock through Gretna to Longtown, Cumbria.Ministry of Munitions of War, Chapter 2: Water Supply] This required a huge influx of labour, and 30,000 men and women came from all over the British Commonwealth to serve as construction and factory workers.Longtown Military Railway]

Sir Raymond Unwin, Chief Housing Architect of the housing branch of the Explosives Department of Ministry of Munitions, designed wooden housing for the workers in both Eastriggs and Gretna.Stratton & Trinder (2000)] As a mark of respect for the immigrant workforce, the streets were named after various cities within the Commonwealth.

Landmarks

Church of St John the Evangelist

Designed in the Gothic style by C M Crickner under the direction of Sir Raymnd Unwin, [ [http://www.scaht.org.uk/examples.htm Scottish Churches Architectural Heritage Trust] Retrieved on 7 September 2008] the Church of St John the Evangelist was dedicated in 1917, and was presented with a signed altar book the following year by King George V and Queen Mary, who were paying an official visit to H.M. Factory, Gretna.

Gallery

References

Notes

Sources

* Reprinted one-inch Victorian Ordnance Survey Maps of Scotland (Sheet 6), "Annan & Whithorn". 1st edition revised to 1896. Kyle of Lochalsh: Caledonian Maps. ISBN 1-85349-006-7.
* Ordnance Survey Landranger Map (number 85) - 1:50,000 scale (1.25 inches to 1 mile). ISBN 0-319-22685-9.
* Ordnance Survey Explorer Map (number 323) - 1:25,000 scale (2.5 inches to 1 mile)
* Ministry of Munitions of War, (1918). "H.M. Factory, Gretna: Description of Plant and Process". Dumfries: J. Maxwell & Son for His Majesty's Stationery Office.
* Stratton, Michael and Trinder, Barrie (2000). "Twentieth Century Industrial Archaeology". London: E & FN Spon. ISBN 0-419-24680-0.
* Video/DVD, (1994). "The Longtown Military Railway". Carnforth: Tele Rail.

External links

* [http://www.annan.org.uk/schools/eastriggs_primary.html Eastriggs Primary School on annan.org.uk]
* [http://www.scottishschoolsonline.gov.uk/schools/eastriggsschooldumfriesgalloway.asp Eastriggs Primary School on scottishschoolsonline.gov.uk]