Eastriggs
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Eastriggs | |
  Eastriggs shown within Scotland |
|
| Population | 1,683 (2001 Census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Council area | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Lieutenancy area | Dumfries |
| Constituent country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Annan |
| Postcode district | DG12 |
| Dialling code | 01461 |
| Police | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Fire | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| European Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | Dumfries and Galloway |
| Scottish Parliament | Dumfries |
| List of places: UK • Scotland | |
Eastriggs is a Scottish village of approximately 2,000 residents (year 2007). 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.
Contents |
[edit] Geography and administration
Eastriggs is built on generally flat land 10 – 20 metres above sea level.[1] 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] 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.[1]
Annan, Dornock, Eastriggs and Gretna are located on the B721, which runs parallel with and is linked to the nearby A75.[1] A railway line linking 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.
[edit] 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.[2] 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.[2]
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.[3]
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.[4] 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.[5]
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.[6] As a mark of respect for the immigrant workforce, the streets were named after various cities within the Commonwealth.[5]
[edit] Landmarks
[edit] Church of St John the Evangelist
Built in the Gothic style, 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.
[edit] Gallery
 Eastriggs, The Commonwealth Village, from the east. |
 Eastriggs from the west |
 Dornock and Eastriggs war memorial |
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- 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.
- Scotland's census 29 April 2001 - accessed 27 Feb 2007
- Eastriggs Primary School on annan.org.uk
- Eastriggs Primary School on scottishschoolsonline.gov.uk
