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Summary

Description

Raymond Unwin and C M Crickmer, 1916-17. 2-storey, 3-bay, square-plan shop and flat above with distinctive bellcast roof, situated at main crossroads. Red brick; painted to upper storey. Overhanging eaves. Slightly recessed round-arched window openings to ground with simple decorative, key-stoned brickwork outlining arch. Raised cills.

INTERIOR (partly seen, 2011): modernized shop interior.

Predominantly 8-pane and 12-pane glazing pattern timber sash and case windows to upper floor. Some smaller timber casement windows. Small pane and plate glass fixed timber windows to ground. Piended, bell-cast roof. Grey slates; red ridge tiles. Cast-iron rainwater goods. Single, corniced, wallhead stack.

Statement of Special Interest

This prominent corner building is a significant addition to the streetscape of the main shopping thoroughfare in Gretna. It is a component of the garden city layout set out by Unwin and Crickmer. The building is little altered externally and its symmetry, distinctive bellcast roof and round-arched windows are decorative features which add to its interest. Now used as a pharmacy (2011), the building once housed the Post Office.

Built in 1916-18, the town of Gretna was constructed to provide housing and community facilities for the workers of the nearby munitions factory. The government was concerned during the course of the First World War that there was a lack of ammunition for the British troops, and it commissioned a large munitions factory to be built. This stretched for 9 miles along the banks of the Solway and produced cordite explosives. Thousands of workers were brought in from around Britain and Ireland to work at the factory and temporary timber and more permanent brick housing was erected to accommodate the builders of the factory and its workers. The township was designed along Garden City lines, with green spaces surrounding the houses and with a wide, central street with shops and other community facilities. This building sits on the crossroads of two main streets. The chief designer was Raymond Unwin, with C M Crickmer acting as the resident architect. As well as housing, the workers and their families required buildings to provide for leisure and the township includes several churches, a dance hall, a school and this cinema. After the war, the factory was dismantled and only a few remnants of it remain.

Raymond Unwin (1863-1940) was one of the most important figures in early 20th century British town planning and was the overseeing architect for the development of Gretna and the neighbouring town of Eastriggs. He advocated high standards of design for social housing and informality of planning. He worked predominantly in England and is perhaps best known for his planning of Letchworth Garden City and Hampstead Garden Suburb.

C M Crickmer, (1879-1971) was London based architect who was the architect in resident for the designing of Gretna township. He also worked with Unwin at Letchworth and Hampstead Garden Suburb.

References

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