Gretna, Dumfries and Galloway: Difference between revisions
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Gretna and Eastriggs were built to house the workforce, and many were accommodated nearby in [[Carlisle]]. When 5,000 workers arrived back by train to Carlisle, one publican had 1,000 [[whisky|whiskies]] lined up! The labourers and workers had such a reputation for drunkenness, which was seen by Government as such a threat to the national interest, that Gretna and the surrounding area became a historical curiosity for a considerable period. Under the [[Defence of the Realm Act 1914]] a State Management Scheme was set up in 1916 to bring the liquor industry, including public houses (pubs) and the local [[Brewery|breweries]], under Government control over a wide area stretching as far as Carlisle and [[Maryport]]. There were Spiritless Saturdays, and buying anyone else a drink (shouting), and heaters and coolers (drinking beer and spirits in the same pub) were banned. The pub landlords, become civil servants, were instructed to follow a disinterested management policy and not allow people to get drunk in the pubs. The State Management Scheme persisted for many years after the First World War was long over and the munitions factories dismantled. It was not until the early 1970s, when the low prices and unadulterated beer in the Gretna area began to become conspicuous, that the government enterprise was sold off by the [[Edward Heath|Heath]] government. |
Gretna and Eastriggs were built to house the workforce, and many were accommodated nearby in [[Carlisle]]. When 5,000 workers arrived back by train to Carlisle, one publican had 1,000 [[whisky|whiskies]] lined up! The labourers and workers had such a reputation for drunkenness, which was seen by Government as such a threat to the national interest, that Gretna and the surrounding area became a historical curiosity for a considerable period. Under the [[Defence of the Realm Act 1914]] a State Management Scheme was set up in 1916 to bring the liquor industry, including public houses (pubs) and the local [[Brewery|breweries]], under Government control over a wide area stretching as far as Carlisle and [[Maryport]]. There were Spiritless Saturdays, and buying anyone else a drink (shouting), and heaters and coolers (drinking beer and spirits in the same pub) were banned. The pub landlords, become civil servants, were instructed to follow a disinterested management policy and not allow people to get drunk in the pubs. The State Management Scheme persisted for many years after the First World War was long over and the munitions factories dismantled. It was not until the early 1970s, when the low prices and unadulterated beer in the Gretna area began to become conspicuous, that the government enterprise was sold off by the [[Edward Heath|Heath]] government. |
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The [[Lochmaben Stone]] is a megalith standing in a field, nearly a mile west of the Sark mouth on the Solway Firth, three hundred yards or so above high water mark on the farm of Old Graitney. It was one of the traditionally recognised meeting places on the England / Scotland border. |
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==Present day== |
==Present day== |
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Revision as of 08:29, 2 May 2009
Gretna
| |
|---|---|
| Population | Expression error: "2705 (2001 Census)" must be numeric |
| OS grid reference | NY320671 |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GRETNA |
| Postcode district | DG16 |
| Dialling code | 01461 |
| Police | Scotland |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Gretna (Scottish Gaelic: Greatna) is a town in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
Because they are near the Anglo-Scottish border, nearby Gretna Green, and to a lesser extent Gretna, are historically linked to weddings because of the more liberal marriage laws in Scotland.
Geography and administration
Gretna is in Dumfries and Galloway, in the south of Scotland, on the A74(M) near the border to England, and near the mouth of the River Esk.[1] The township is distinct from the smaller nearby village of Gretna Green, famous for marriages, which borders but is a separate area from Gretna proper. To the West in Scotland are Eastriggs (about 5 miles to the West) and Annan (about 8 miles to the West), both situated on the B721 and linked to the nearby A75.[1]
Etymology
Gretna means "(place at the) gravelly hill", from Old English greot "grit" (in the dative form greoten (which is where the -n comes from)" and hoh "hill-spur". The name is equivalent to modern-day Gravelly Hill.
History
The village was notable for HM Factory, Gretna, codenamed Moorside, a huge cordite munitions factory built nearby on the shore of Solway Firth to supply ammunition to British forces during World War I. The factory, the biggest munitions factory ever built, stretched for nine miles from Eastriggs along the Solway coast as far as Longtown in England and two miles across. The factory took 10,000 navvies to build it, and employed 30,000 workers, mostly women. The workers mixed by hand a devil’s porridge of nitro-glycerine and guncotton into cordite paste, and loaded the extruded cordite strands into shell cases.
Gretna and Eastriggs were built to house the workforce, and many were accommodated nearby in Carlisle. When 5,000 workers arrived back by train to Carlisle, one publican had 1,000 whiskies lined up! The labourers and workers had such a reputation for drunkenness, which was seen by Government as such a threat to the national interest, that Gretna and the surrounding area became a historical curiosity for a considerable period. Under the Defence of the Realm Act 1914 a State Management Scheme was set up in 1916 to bring the liquor industry, including public houses (pubs) and the local breweries, under Government control over a wide area stretching as far as Carlisle and Maryport. There were Spiritless Saturdays, and buying anyone else a drink (shouting), and heaters and coolers (drinking beer and spirits in the same pub) were banned. The pub landlords, become civil servants, were instructed to follow a disinterested management policy and not allow people to get drunk in the pubs. The State Management Scheme persisted for many years after the First World War was long over and the munitions factories dismantled. It was not until the early 1970s, when the low prices and unadulterated beer in the Gretna area began to become conspicuous, that the government enterprise was sold off by the Heath government.
The Lochmaben Stone is a megalith standing in a field, nearly a mile west of the Sark mouth on the Solway Firth, three hundred yards or so above high water mark on the farm of Old Graitney. It was one of the traditionally recognised meeting places on the England / Scotland border.
Present day
Much of the local economy is driven by the marriage industry at Gretna Green, where, by some accounts, as many as one of every six Scottish weddings takes place.[citation needed] Some marriages take place in Gretna itself, at the Register office in the centre of the township.
Gretna is also the location of the Gretna Gateway Outlet Village, a development of discount factory shops.
Gretna was also the official home of Gretna Football Club, who played in the Scottish Premier League during the 2007–2008 season, the club playing 'home' games at Fir Park, Motherwell. Mounting financial problems saw the club relegated from the SPL at the end of the season, then demoted to Division 3 of the Scottish Football League. After attempts to find a buyer for the club proved fruitless, Gretna finally resigned from the SFL on June 3, 2008. A new club, Gretna FC 2008 has been founded in its place but currently plays its games in Annan, with the hope of one day moving back to Gretna.
References
- Routledge, Gordon L. (1999).Gretna’s Secret War.
- devilsporridge.co.uk
- 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)