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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Do you know who was an "important appointment" at H.M. Factory Gretna? According to a newspaper article we've found, Robert Ray was. He's this week's Worker of the Week if you fancy finding out more about him. Read more: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-robert-ray #WorkeroftheWeek

Melbourne Avenue a tree lined street in Eastriggs. Some brick building are on the left of the road. This is a black and white photo from the past.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Have you heard The Devil's Porridge Museum's on a National Cycle route? 🚲 You'd be welcome to cycle to visit our museum or pop in our Café. We even have a bicycle stand outside too. #GreenTourism #WorldCarFreeDay

A bicycle from the past on display outside The Devil’s Porridge Museum. A modern bike stand and a sign for organic fresh coffee in the Cafe are in the background.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Thanks everyone for all your support and kind words. We really appreciate it. ♥️♥️ We're still hoping to reschedule our Wartime Weekend for a later date, but for now we thought we would look to the future and let you know about some of the events we do still have planned for this year. Read on...

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Last week's Worker of the Week Valentine Duffy stole shoes, this week's Maggie Oxley stole clothing. If they'd worked together they might have had a full outfit ( & found themselves in even bigger trouble as a result, so please don't.) www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-maggie-oxley

A birds eye view of rows of hostel buildings in Gretna township. This is on a black and white postcard from the past.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Our Wartime Weekend's not happening this weekend. 💔💔 Sorry everyone.

Hi everyone,

We’re sorry to have to do this, but unfortunately due to recent unforeseen events we’re having to cancel our upcoming Wartime Weekend. This was due to take place this weekend. We understand that many of you will be disappointed, we are too, and we hope you will continue to support our future events. We are intending to run the Wartime Weekend at a later date and we hope you will be able to join us for this.

If you would like to visit us, The Devil’s Porridge Museum will be open as usual this weekend but please be aware that we will have no additional events taking place. This was not an easy decision for us to make, but we hope that you can understand that we didn’t want to run an event which we felt would fall below the standard we advertised and you would expect from us, due to unforeseen events which have arisen since then.

Sorry everyone and all the best,

The Devil’s Porridge Museum Team.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

We asked the young people who come along to our Arts and Crafts Club to make you posters so we could tell you about their club. Here are the results... Thanks to them for making the posters! You can find out more about Arts and Crafts Club here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/arts-and-crafts-club-2026

Three handmade posters for Arts and Crafts Club at The Devil's Porridge Museum. Each poster explains Arts and Crafts Club is on on Mondays from 3:30pm to 4:30pm for 7 to 11 year olds, is free and includes illustrations of craft supplies.

A handmade poster which reads "Arts and Crafts Club!! Monday 3.30 to 4.30pm. Free. 7 to 11 years old." The poster is decorated with illustrations of the sun, a happy emoji, a book called 'Agghh!!", a pencil, a pumpkin, scissors and a ghost.

A handmade poster, which reads " The Devil's Porridge Museum. Arts and Crafts Club with Wendy. Free. Mondays 3.30pm to 4.30pm for 7 to 11 year olds." There are some illustrations of craft supplies decorating the poster.

A handmade poster which reads "Arts and Crafts Club with Wendy. Mondays 3.30 to 4.30. Age 7 to 11 years old. Free." There is colourful illustrations of craft supplies, the sun and some ghosts on the poster.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

On this day... ⚽ On 10th September 1917, The Mossband Swifts, a women's football team from H.M. Factory Gretna, played a match against the workers of the local Cumberland works at Brunton Park in Carlisle. #WomensFootballHistory #OnThisDay

The Mossband Swifts women football team arranged in three rows. The back row are stood up. The middle row is sat down and the front row consists of two women sat on the floor with a leather football between them. The football reads Mossband AFC 1917. This is a black and white archive photo from the past.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Valentine Duffy stole a pair of shoes. He also worked as an apprentice engineer at H.M. Factory Gretna and is this week's Worker of the Week. You can read more about him here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-th... (Also please don't steal. Valentine got in trouble for this.) #WorkeroftheWeek

A pair of sturdy boots without shoelaces.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Anyone fancy coming to our Wartime Weekend? 🪖 We'll have WW2 living history displays, artefact handling, crafts & more! (Plus, we even used crayons, paper and glue to make you a poster.) It's on Saturday 19th & Sunday 20th September 2026. Learn more: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/wartime-weekend-2026

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Are you interested in helping to shape the future of our museum? Our Annual General Meeting takes place to elect the trustees of the Eastriggs & Gretna Heritage Group, which manages the strategic development of The Devil's Porridge Museum. ⏰Monday 14th September 2026 at 7pm.

A poster for The Devil's Porridge Museum's Annual General Meeting 2026. This is happening on Monday 14th September 2026 at 7pm at The Devil's Porridge Museum. All welcome. Forms will be available for anyone wishing to join the SCIO, which would allow a vote in matters pertaining to the Eastriggs and Gretna Heritage Group (SCIO). This poster is held up in someone's hand in front of a sign which reads "The Devil's Porridge Museum."

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

On This Day... 3rd September 1939, at 11.15am, Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain took to the airwaves to announce that Britain was at war with Germany. This followed an ultimatum given to Hitler to pull his troops out of Poland (after Germany invaded Poland) which Germany failed to respond to. 📻

A radio from the past on display inside The Devil's Porridge Museum. A button on the front reads "push to listen."

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Do you think that Dorothy Mary Champness would have been given a On War Service Badge like these? 🤔 Dorothy's this week's Worker of the Week, so you can find out more about her in this our latest blog. Read more here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-th... #WorkeroftheWeek

Two brass On War Service badges. These are triangle shaped with a crown and the date 1916 in the middle.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

On this day ( 1st September 1939), the first wave of the evacuation of children from towns and cities to rural locations took place. This was known as Operation Pied Piper. Many evacuees were sent to the local area, including some Barnardo's evacuees, who were housed in many local stately homes.

A child and babies gas mask in a glass display case. In the background is an information panel which is titled "Operation Piped Piper." Under this display panel is a touchscreen on top of a stack of three suitcases. This is inside The Devil's Porridge Museum.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Potatoes! 🥔 Grow them! Bag them! Put them in a soup! 🥔 If you'd like a bag of potatoes grown in our very own Dig For Victory Garden we're currently selling them for £1 a bag in our museum and Café. They proved a smash hit yesterday, so we can't guarantee they'll be around for long...

Rows of potato plants in The Devil's Porridge Museum's Dig For Victory Garden.

Lots of small potatoes piled in a green box.

Three small brown paper bags of potatoes. A handwritten sign reads "potatoes grown in our garden. £1 a bag. Thank you."

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Did you know H.M. Factory Gretna had a town manager? 🤔 John Harkness, helped with recruitment at the local schools, select who let out the shops in Eastriggs and Gretna and more! He's this weeks Worker of the Week. www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-john-harkness #WorkeroftheWeek

A street of shops in Gretna township. London City and Midland bank is on the closest end of the photo. Crowds of people are walking down the road and stood on the pavement in front of the bank. This is a black and white photo from the past.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Have you heard it's International Dog Day? 🐶 Alas, our Dog Friendly Days are not until Thursday or Sunday each week, so you'll have to make do with some archive photos from our collection in the meantime. #DogDay #internationaldogday

A gentleman wearing a suit sat in a chair. A lady is stood beside him, leaning on the back of another chair with a small dog sat on it.

A man and woman sat on a wall. The mans arm is around the women's waist and a dog is sat at their feet.

A man leaning on the back of a deckchair that a lady is sat in. The lady is leaning down to stroke a large fluffy dog. They are in a garden and look happy.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

Did you miss our Worker of the Week post last week? You know what... so did we! 😱 Last week's Worker of the Week was Margaret Orman, who lived at Gretna during her time working at the factory. Read more about her here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-th... #WorkeroftheWeek

Margaret Orman sat on a chair. A man in a sailors uniform is stood to her left. This is a black and white photo from the past, which has kindly been shared by Margaret's relatives.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

We're delighted to have the Scotia Crafters back in our museum from Sunday 16th to Sunday 30th August 2026. Their Arts and Crafts market will be open 10am to 4pm daily. We always love to see the beautiful handmade items they have. Maybe you will too www.devilsporridge.org.uk/scotia-crafters-2026

A open doorway into The Devil's Porridge Museum's education room. A sign outside reads "welcome to Scotia Crafter Exhibition and Sale of Local Quality Made Crafts." Inside is a selection of tables with crafts on.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Not only did Sydney Bertram Abbot work at H.M. Factory Gretna in World War One, but he seems to have worked at an Australian explosives factory during World War Two. 💥💥 He's this week's Worker of the Week too! www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-sydney-bertram-abbot #WorkeroftheWeek

An illustration with three factory workers in the middle and two additional munitions workers either side. A ribbon curls decoratively around the two munitions workers and forms the words "Farewell Mossband."

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

On this day, 12th August 1919, a sale of 300 huts from Gretna, Eastriggs & Longtown began. This was held across three days at 11am and was primarily to dispose of smaller buildings. It was not until 22nd July 1924, that Eastriggs and Gretna township and H.M. Factory Gretna itself, was auctioned.

A blue booklet in a glass display case. This booklet reads, "Important Sale of 300 huts, including hostels, sleeping huts, wet and dry canteens, laundries, architects' offices, chauffeurs' shelters, guard huts, recreation and mess rooms, women police barracks, stores, caretakers' huts, bathing huts, school house, wash-houses, cabins, garages, latrines, earth closets, watchmen's boxes, treaties. " "To be sold by action by Messrs, Robert Dalton & Son, On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday August 12th, 13th and 14th 1919.
1st Day's Sale - Gretna Township.
2nd Day's Sale - Eastriggs, Butterdales and Brow Houses.
3rd Day's Sale - Longtown, Mossband and Mill Hill.
Note - On the 3rd Day Transport will be available for purchases between Longtown and Mossband.
Sale at 11am to the minute each day."

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

Do you know what happened today? ✈ ☢ On this day ( 11th August 1955 ) the United Kingdom Energy Authority secured the former site of RAF Annan to build Chapelcross Nuclear Power station. #OnThisDay #Onthisdayinhistory #localhistory #localhitstorymatters

Information panels about Chapelcross Nuclear Power Station inside The Devil's Porridge Museum. These are titled splitting the atom on the left wall. A photo of Chapelcross with its cooling towers and cows eating in a field is on the right wall. Underneath this is a touchscreen and two chairs.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Discover why the government took over all the pubs in Carlisle and district, why they made the beer weaker and the pubs drab at our State Management exhibition. 🍻 Learn more about our latest exhibition here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/category/exh... #StateManagementScheme

A selection of bottle labels and coasters from the Carlisle and district State Management Scheme. The coasters are for Carlisle Brewery, while the labels are for lime juice cordial, blackcurrant cordial, light ale and special export. An illustration of a pub and a blue booklet are in the background.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

We think Agnes Renton might be the longest living H.M. Factory Gretna worker we've come across so far! Plus, her time at the factory helped her win a cruise ship edition of panel game show, "What's My Line?" Read more: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-agnes-renton #WorkeroftheWeek

Agnes Renton in her munitions workers uniform sat on a table. This is a black and white photo from the past, which has kindly been shared by Agnes' relatives.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

As it's Scottish Results Day, we would like to remind everyone that there's no wrong path to a successful career. Our Office Manager, Arna never expected to end up working in a museum! #NoWrongPath @museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk

Arna Johnston, The Devil's Porridge Museum. "I had no idea that one day I would be working in a management role at a museum. Having left school at almost 18 with a passion to meeting new people and worked in administration all my life starting off at the reception stage and worked my way through different department and roles within the administration sector, learning all aspects of the job, with a lot of hard work and determination to finally reaching the great heights of Office / Operational Manager at The Devil's Porridge Museum." There is a photo of Arna wearing a yellow jacket and smiling.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

👚💍Cotton blouses, a pillow and a gold ring are three items that munitions worker, Margaret Alice Laidlaw was accused of stealing. She's also this week's Worker of the Week. Find the full story in our latest Worker of the Week blog: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-th... #WorkeroftheWeek

Some cotton clothing folded up on a wooden chair. There is a green curtain in the background.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

We’re looking for young people ( aged 15 to 25 ) who would like to bring their viewpoints, creativity, ideas, and enthusiasm to our museum! Learn more: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/were-looking-for-young-volunteers Thank to the generous support of our funders Young Start and The Holywood Trust.

devilsporridge.org.uk

We're Looking For Young Volunteers! - The Devil's Porridge Museum

We’re looking for young people ( age 15 to 25) who want to bring their viewpoints, creativity, ideas, & enthusiasm to our museum.

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Reposted by The Devil's Porridge Museum

British Library @britishlibrary.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

This July marks 110 years since the Battle of the Somme Often remembered through military history, these newspapers reveal the human stories behind one of the deadliest battles of the First World War

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Can anyone recognise the place on this postcard? We think this week's Worker of the Week, William Boustead, might have. William lived in Carlisle for most his life, he seems to have worked at H.M. Factory Gretna. He also repaired shoes. www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-william-boustead

A postcard of Botchergate in Carlisle. There are some tall buildings with people stood on the road between them and some tram lines. This is a black and white photo from the past. Underneath this is a handwritten note which reads "how do you like this view? One you collecting?"

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Don't blink, but if anyone does happen to end up at H.M. Factory Gretna during World War One after looking away from this statue, please leave us a note. Preferably an interesting one about something we don't know yet. Thanks in advance!🙂

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Have you heard what happened 102 years ago today? 🤔 On this day (22nd July 1924) H.M. Factory Gretna and the "townships of Gretna and Eastriggs and the Mossband, Longtown and Dornock areas" were put up for public auction. The auction had 607 lots, ranging from a cinema to a glycerine distillery.

A glass display case with auction books inside. A information panel titled "The Sale of the Century" and The Mossband Clock is in the background.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Our Dog Friendly Trial Week went well! So, we're having a two Dog Friendly Days every week! On Thursdays & Sundays, well-behaved, dry, dogs on leads will be welcome into our museum with their humans. Remember to check all the details before you visit: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/dog-friendly-days

A dog peering around a wall in a garden.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

Would you like some poetry for International Moon day? "Bless my life! What's this I see? If it isn't a little EVACUEE Don't be afraid when it's dark at night. They simply can't put out my light." Now... if you had to sing this poem what tune would you use? #MoonDay #InternationalMoonDay

A postcard featuring an illustration of a crescent moon with a face, bow tie and hat. A child in a red dress is reaching up towards the moon. The silhouette of a town is in the background. Under the child is a poem which reads "Bless my life! What's this I see? If it isn't a little EVACUEE. Don't be afraid when it's dark at night. They simply can't put out my light."

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

On this da in 1944 the decision was made to abandon RAF Annan. In it's heyday, RAF Annan could boast a staff of 400 RAF personal across its 200-acre site. It's main focus was training young fighter pilots in offensive attacks. Sadly, young pilots died during their time training at RAF Annan.

A display inside The Devil's Porridge Museum titled no ordinary airfield. There is a RAF uniform in a glass display case.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Did you know a Murchison medal winner worked at H.M. Factory Gretna? 🏅 Frederick Murray Trotter received the medal in 1956, due to his Geology work. In WW1 he worked as a Royal Engineers' dispatch rider & at H.M. Factory Gretna www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-frederick-murray-trotter

Frederick Murray Trotter wearing a suit and his eyepatch. Photo source: The British Geology Survey Heritage website.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Remember that time the government took control of all the pubs in Carlisle and district? 💭🍻 Our latest exhibition is all about The State Management Scheme. Thanks to everyone who made this possible. Learn about our current exhibition: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/category/exh...

Poster for a Summer 2026 exhibition at The Devil's Porridge Museum. This reads: "When the state took over the pubs. Discover the fascinating story of why the government took control of all the pubs in Carlisle and district why they made the beer weaker and the pubs drab. Find out how they closed hundreds of drinking dens and engaged a man to design fifteen new model inns and set the standard for pubs throughout the country and finally how it all ended. The poster includes photos and illustrations of State Management Pubs from the past, some state management bears, labels, some photos of people in the past, a newspaper article and the front page of a document called A Bill.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

We have a plan. It's for Eastriggs Post Office. 📮 Eastriggs & Gretna were originally built to house the workers of H.M. Factory Gretna in WW1. As part of these townships, shops, leisure facilities and more were built for the munitions workers. This includes Eastriggs Post Office. #EYAArchitecture

A page from a magazine showing architectural drawings of Eastriggs Post Office from every angle, including floorplans of inside. To the lower left of this is a black and white photo of a brick building with the words Eastriggs Post Office above the door.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

☀🫠 If it gets a bit too warm out there today, here's your friendly reminder that: ❄️The Devil's Porridge Museum has air conditioning, 🤩free drop in Air Raid Day activities today, 🍦and we sell ice cream. Many other museums are cool places to visit this time of year too. 😎

A family of two adults and two children gathered around a nitrating pan. There hands are inside the pan. In the background is a video, some text, shells and books in display cases. This is inside The Devil's Porridge Museum.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

The 11th times Great Granddaughter of King Edward 4th of England, Bryde Johnstone-Douglas, worked at H.M. Factory Gretna. We do have this photo of her. Unfortunately, it is a bit dark... (Anyone got some night vision googles? 🤣) www.devilsporridge.org.uk/brydejonnstone-douglas #WorkeroftheWeek

A page from "The Gentlewoman." This features an article of text and two photos. One of these should feature Miss Bryde Johnstone-Douglas. However, the photos are both so dark that no details are visible.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

We have some FREE family Coding Workshops for 8 to 12 year olds on Tuesday 21st July 2026. Booking is essential for these workshops. Learn more and book your place here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/family-codin...

An iPad held in two hands and a iPad with colourful dots on it.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

We have a selection of free drop in activities during the school holidays this year. Whether you're looking for family friendly activities, to discover a new hobby, or chilling at Zentangle Drawing session, you'd be welcome to join us. 😎 www.devilsporridge.org.uk/category/eve...

Poster for Free Family Summer Holiday Fun at The Devil's Porridge Museum. This reads "drop in and join us any time between 11am to 12.30pm or to 3.30pm for the following activities: Air Raid Day on Thursday 9th July 2026, Beside the Seaside on Friday 10th July 2026, Badge Making Day on Tuesday 14th July 2026, Interactive Storytelling and Clay Modelling on on Wednesday 22nd July 2026, Poster Printing and Zany Zines on Wednesday 29th July 2026, Mini Treasure Boxes on Thursday 5th August 2026 and Tinted Postcards and Watercolour Scenes on Thursday 13th August 2026. Free family events. Admission prices do apply to anyone wishing to look around our museum."

Poster for a Zentangle Drawing workshop on Thursday 6th August 2026. Join us for a session of mindfulness and drawing as you discover Zentangles, repeating patterns which can be viewed from any angle! Drop in and join us any time between 11am and 12:30pm or 2pm to 3.30pm. All ages welcome for a free chilled drawing session. These activities are free, but please be aware admission prices apply to anyone wishing to look around The Devil's Porridge Museum.

Poster for Warhammer Taster Day on Tuesday 28th July 2026. Discover this hobby packed with amazing armies and weird creatures. Have a go at building and painting a miniature figure and join in with some tabletop battles, which will be underway throughout the day. We have activities for Warhammer Age of Sigmar and Warhammer 40,000! Drop in and join us any time between 11am and 12.30pm or 2pm to 3.30pm. This activity is FREE, but please be aware admission prices apply to anyone wishing to look around The Devil's Porridge Museum.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

72 years ago today food rationing in Britain came to an end. 🥳🕺💃 During WW2, rationing was introduced to ensure everyone had access to food & other items in short supply. What would be the first thing you'd choose to eat after food rationing ended? 🤔

Display inside The Devil's Porridge Museum which is designed to look like a 1940s house. This contains some information about rationing during World War Two. There is a photo of a child eating a carrot.

A selection of booklets from WW2, including a ration book, an ID card and "what a British soldier wants to say in French" guide.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Did you know that the inventor of Vegemite worked at H.M. Factory Gretna? 🤩 Cyril Callister worked as a chemist at the factory, before creating Vegemite. We've chosen him as this Week's Worker of the Week... although his blog post was written in July 2021. www.devilsporridge.org.uk/cyrilcallister

Two pieces of toast with vegemite on and a cartoon illustration of a Vegemite jar.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Our FREE Interactive Lego Robot Workshops are back! This will be for 8 to 12 years old on Thursday 16th July 2026... and this time there's two of them! Booking is essential for these workshops. Learn more and book your place: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/interactive-... #ThrivingCommunity

Three robots made out of Lego. One is humanoid in shape with two legs and eyes. One has wheels and another is snail like. The robots are on a white circle shape. Some Lego is in the background.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

On This Day (26th June) in 1915 the Minister of Munitions & future Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, authorised the construction of munitions factory, H.M. Factory Gretna. Find out more about this factory & the 30,000 people who worked there by visiting us. (Plus, we have air conditioning.🫠)

Sub-station number 1 on site 3 of H.M. Factory Gretna being built in 1916. This is an archive photo from the past.

Site III (Building 3E) the Nitric Acid Still House from H.M. Factory Gretna. There are railways tracks on either side of a mound of soil. Wagons are on the railway track to the left and some people are walking near the right track. This is an archive photo from 1916.

Site III Grillo Oleum Plant looking West at H.M. Factory Gretna. This includes the frame of some buildings and two rudimentary cranes. Some timber huts are in the background. This is an archive photo from 1916.

Site III N/G Hill 2. Examination bag house at H.M. Factory Gretna. There are some people standing near some train track to the right. Three more people are digging with shovels in front of the Examination Bag house building. Another person is sat at a bench in the background. This is a black and white image from 1916.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Have you ever tried making your own badges? Join us on Tuesday 14th July 2026 for our FREE Badge Making Day Activities. You will discover some of the badges that were given out at H.M. Factory Gretna and try making two different styles of badges. ⭐️ www.devilsporridge.org.uk/badge-making-workshop

Some triangle On War Service badges and round Women's Police Force Badges for H.M. Factory Gretna on display inside a display case.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Did you know the father of one of H.M. Factory Gretna's Women's Police Officers, Marjorie Beryl Pearse, designed posters for the women's suffragette movement? You can find out more about Marjorie here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-marjorie-beryl-pearse #WorkeroftheWeek

A collage of four photos. These are a gold coloured Ministry of Munitions Women's Police Force badge, an archive photo of H.M. Factory Gretna's Women's Police Force arranged in rows in front of a hostel, another archive photo of members of the Women's Police Force stood in smart rows in front of a hostel and a gold Women's Police Force Badge. The two badges are circle shaped with a crown on top and the letters G R in the middle.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

On Thursday 9th July 2026, you can join us for Air Raids Day. Make your own gas mask, practice your air raid drill & much more! You'd be welcome to drop in and join us for either the morning or afternoon session of this family friendly activity. Learn more: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/air-raids-day

A selection of World War Two items arranged on a table. These include a National Dried Milk Tin, ration books, Dig for victory leaflets and wartime cookery books. There is also resources to make World War Two evacuee labels.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

You've been asking. We've heard you. 🐾 We know dogs are a big part of many families, so we're having a dog friendly trial week at The Devil's Porridge Museum! From Monday 29th June to Sunday 5th July 2026 well-behaved, dry, dogs on leads will be welcome into our museum with their humans! 🎉

A man wearing a suit holding a small dog. This is a black and white archive photo from the past.

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The Devil's Porridge Museum @devilsporridge.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

Did you know that Arthur Parkin named his daughter, Gretna, after a Scottish township? (No prizes for guessing which one.😂) She became a renowned scientist & Arthur was a chemist at H.M. Factory Gretna, so we thought it would be perfect to share for Father's Day. You could visit us to celebrate.

Arthur Parkin wearing a suit in a oval shaped portrait. This is a black and white photograph from the past.

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