The Devil’s Porridge Museum
A museum in Eastriggs on HM Factory Gretna, the First World War munitions works, and on the Second World War and Cold War history of the Solway coast.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Devil's Porridge Museum tells the story of HM Factory Gretna, which was the largest munitions factory in the world during the First World War. About 30,000 people worked there, around 12,000 of them women, and the museum links their wartime work to the women's vote. It also covers the Solway coast in the Second World War and the Cold War.
The museum was grown by the local community over some twenty years. It began as a small exhibition in St John's Church and later moved to a large uninsulated industrial shed in Eastriggs before opening in its present modern building with interactive displays. It has won tourism awards in Scotland and was shortlisted in 2019 for the title of most family friendly museum in the UK.
The ground floor is devoted to the First World War, with galleries on life in the trenches, the Quintinshill rail disaster, the state management of alcohol, HM Factory Gretna, life in the townships and the Women's Police Service. The first floor covers the Second World War and the Cold War, including evacuees, a 1940s house, the bombing of Gretna in 1941, RAF Annan, the Land Girls and Broom Lassies, and Chapelcross nuclear power station. A changing programme of temporary exhibitions complements the permanent galleries.
Highlights
- HM Factory Gretna, the largest First World War munitions works
- Replica First World War trench
- A 1940s house to touch and explore
- Chapelcross nuclear power station control panel
- Fireless locomotive Sir James
- Cafe in Rennie Mackintosh style
Permanent exhibitions
- World War One galleries (ground floor) – Galleries on life in the trenches, the Quintinshill rail disaster, the state management of alcohol, HM Factory Gretna, life in the townships and the Women's Police Service.
- World War Two and Cold War galleries (first floor) – Displays on evacuees, a 1940s house, the bombing of Gretna in 1941, RAF Annan, the Land Girls and Broom Lassies, and Chapelcross nuclear power station.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £10 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £9.50Concessions, over 60s and children aged 5 to 16 |
| Children & teens | £9.50free up to age 4 · Under 5s are free; children aged 5 to 16 pay the concession price. |
| Seniors | £9.50Over 60s pay the concession price. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · A paying disabled visitor can bring an essential carer free of charge; proof of carer status is needed. |
| Groups | –Group visits are by appointment all year and must be booked in advance, together with any food. |
| Families | £27.502 adults and up to 3 children. |
| School group (per student, by prior arrangement) | £4.50 |
Tickets are paid on arrival or booked online. If a ticket is Gift Aided on arrival at no extra charge, the visitor can return free for the rest of the year.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The museum is fully accessible for wheelchairs and walking frames, and two manual wheelchairs can be borrowed (booking ahead is recommended). A lift serves the upper floor. An accessible toilet with baby changing is on the ground floor, and the cafe has a unisex toilet. The car park has two Blue Badge spaces and staff can help visitors reach the museum or cafe. Chairs are placed throughout the museum, and a large print guidebook can be borrowed from the front desk. The introductory film has optional BSL and subtitles. Audio guides in several languages are free for people with a reading difficulty or visual impairment and otherwise cost £2.50. Quiet events with interactive displays switched off have been held in the past.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|---|
| Family ticket | £27.50 · 2 adults and up to 3 children. |
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Stroller-friendly
- Baby changing facilities
The museum lists ten family favourites, including stamping a factory pass, a replica First World War trench, a 1940s house to touch, the Chapelcross control panel and a replica Anderson shelter. Families can use suggested games and online home learning resources. Holiday workshops, term-time clubs and Christmas and Halloween kids parties are held. Pushchairs can be left with staff, a lift reaches the upper floor and breastfeeding is welcome.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
The museum has a car park with two Blue Badge spaces.
- Accessible parking
The museum is at Stanfield on Annan Road in Eastriggs. No public transport details are published.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
The cafe is decorated in Rennie Mackintosh style and serves homemade cakes, scones and light meals with gluten-free and vegetarian options on request. Groups of more than five should tell the cafe in advance. Only assistance and guide dogs are allowed inside the cafe; dogs can sit in the outside seating area.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Audio guide | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Audio guides cost £2.50 to hire. Well-behaved, dry dogs on leads are allowed on Thursdays and Sundays; assistance and guide dogs are always welcome. School visits can be arranged through the education team (education@devilsporridge.org.uk). |
