Monthly Roundup 23rd March to 19th April 2026 graphic with the museum Logo. This includes photos of a munitions worker and soldier craft activity, a trench Lego model and a separate display of assorted Lego models in The Devil's Porridge Museum's education room.

In case you've missed what's been happening at The Devil's Porridge Museum recently you can catch up on all that's been going on in our Monthly Roundup!

This tell you about what's happened from 23rd March to 19th April 2026.

www.devilsporridge.org.uk/monthly-roundup-23-rd-march-to-19-april-2026

Inside The Devil's Porridge Museum's Café. There are six tables with placemats arranged on them. Tartan or wooden chairs surround the tables. There are some windows across the back wall. On the top window a sticker reads "Cafe" and has a image of a triangle shaped On War Service Badge beside it.

Please be aware that our Café will be closed on Monday 27th April 2026, due to a group booking.

You will still be welcome to explore The Devil’s Porridge Museum, but please do be aware that our museum will be busier than usual on this day. Thank you. 😀

We aim to share the story of someone connected to H.M. Factory Gretna with our weekly Worker of the Week posts. Our amazing team of research volunteers help to make this possible, so a huge thank you goes to them! 👏

#WorkeroftheWeek

Reginald Keen wearing a suit and crossing his arms on the back of a chair he is sat on. Reginald has a moustache and two more people are stood in the background. This is a black and white photo from the past.

Reginald Keen was a farmer for most of his life. 🚜

However, we have a photo which suggests he worked at H.M. Factory Gretna as a fireman during World War One. 🔥

Find out more about Reginald here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-the-week-reginald-keen

#WorkeroftheWeek

Did anyone else see this message in the clouds this morning? #LookUpAtTheSkyDay

H.M. Factory Gretna worker, Sarah Carter pleaded guilty to stealing another munitions workers hat according to an article in the Dumfries and Galloway Standard Newspaper from Saturday 10th March 1917.

To cap it off, she ended up with 10 days in prison.

🤠👒🎩

#EYACrime #ExploreYourArchive

A replica green fabric munitions workers uniform with a hat.

Have you heard about the munitions worker who stole a hat?

👒🎩

#EYACrime #ExploreYourArchive
@arascot.bsky.social @exploreyourarchive.bsky.social

Poster for The Quintinshill Tragedy Talk at The Devil's Porridge Museum. This is happening on Friday 22nd May 2026 at 7pm. Join us on the anniversary of Quintinshill rail accident for an illustrated talk exploring Britain's worst railway disaster. This presentation will be by Grant Cullen, a historian of railways and the Great War. This talk is free, but donations to support The Devil's Porridge Museum are welcome. The poster includes a black and white image of a burned train carriage and a train crash with two cyclists stood watching.

Wondering what we have coming up next? 🤔

Join us on the 111th anniversary of Quintinshill rail accident for an illustrated talk given by Grant Cullen.

⏰This will be on Friday 22nd May 2026 at 7pm.

The talk is free, but donations to support the work of our museum would be gratefully received.

A poster for a Lego Weekend happening at The Devil's Porridge Museum on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th April 2026. Join us to celebrate all things Lego. See local history and legends recreated in Lego. Build with our bricks. Brand new historic minifigure trail around The Devil's Porridge Museum. The Devil's Porridge Museum's usual admission prices and opening hours do apply. There is a photo of a lego model of munition workers, plane, Lego version of The Devil's Porridge Museum, Lego horse, dog and pigeon.

Have you heard about our Lego Weekend?

It's happening THIS WEEKEND! 🤩 That's Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th April 2026.

Join us to celebrate all things Lego.

Learn more: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/lego-weekend...

#Lego #FamilyFriendlyMuseum #thingstodowiththekids #thingsonindumfriesandgalloway

⭐Worker of the Week is a series of blog posts which shares the story of someone connected to H.M. Factory Gretna.

A huge thank you to our research volunteers for making this possible! 😀

#WorkeroftheWeek

Munitions workers in uniform stood and sat in four rows. This is a black and white photograph from the past.

👀Take a look at this group photo of H.M. Factory Gretna workers from World War One.

Anyone wondering who the people are in the photo? 🤔 One of them is this week's Worker of the Week, Lily Bruce.

Find out more about Lily here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-th...

#WorkeroftheWeek

A poseable cardboard figure of a munition worker. In the background is a template for making a soldier and some colouring pencils are in the background.

A cardboard poseable figure of a munition worker with The Devil's Porridge Museum's Mossband Clock in the background.

We're all set for some Wartime Crafts! 🤩

Remember if you're visiting us today you can pop into our education room to make your own poseable wartime character to take home with you. This is included in your admission into The Devil's Porridge Museum.

Remembering Those Who Tragically Lost Their Lives on the Night of 7 April 1941. This is the list of people's names, ages and occupations. It lists the following: Thomas C Beattie, 60, Lithographer; John Bell, 59, Provision Agent; Robert Bell, 46, Railway Clerk; John James Nicol Broatch, 32, Blacksmith; Stanley Burns, 38, Draughtsman; Stanley Carlyle, 38, Boiler Maker; William Cochrane, 25, Railway Surfaceman; James Connolly, 52, Railway Engine Driver; Hugh Crawford, 59, Railway Cashier; Reuben Gourley, 37, Electrical Engineer; Helen Graham, 14, Domestic Servant; Stephen Harold Gwyer, 43, Royal Navy Recruiter; Peter Charles Henderson, 62, Boot Shop Manager; Frederick Horseburgh, 30, Grocer; Wiliam Irving, 78, Master Builder; John Kilgour, 57, Tailor and Draper; James Little Noble, 48, Forester; Francis Phillips, 55, Corporation Clerk; Jeremiah Reed, 37, Scrap Merchant; John Robertson, 47, Butcher's Shop Manager; William Ross, 41, Royal Marines Recruiter; Arthur Phillip Thomas Shelley, 43, Sanitary Inspector; Benjamin Smith, 44, Farmer; Herbert Smith, 38, Hotel Manager; John Owen Stafford, 71, Minister; William Telfer Steel, 39; William Wetternhall West, 32, Butcher; William Wettenhall West, 32, Egg and Poultry Dealer; Thomas Young, 38, Coal Agent.

Sadly, 28 people died. The Freemasons' Hall took a direct hit, which killed 27 men. When a bomb hit her home, 14 year old Helen Graham also died.

Please take a moment to remember all of them today. ❤❤

#OnThisDay #onthisdayinhistory #localhistory #localhistorymatters

Some display panels about The Gretna Bombing inside The Devil's Porridge Museum. These are titled "The Night The Bombs Fell."

85 years ago today...

On This Day (7th April) in 1941, a lone German bomber returning from bombing the shipyards at Clydebank near Glasgow, dropped surplus bombs onto Gretna township.

#OnThisDay #onthisdayinhistory #localhistory #localhistorymatters

We're open as usual, so if you fancy making your Easter a dash more EGG-splosive, why not visit us? 🥚💥

⏰ Our opening hours are 10am to 4.30pm, including on Easter Sunday and Monday, but please remember that last entry into our museum is 45 minutes before we close.

🐇

A toy rabbit inside a display case in The Devil's Porridge Museum.

Happy Easter! 🐣🐣🐣
Guess what we have on display? 👀
That's right, it's a toy rabbit! (Although, we have had a real one accidentally visit us before too...)

During World War Two young evacuees could not take many things with them, but they may have found room for a toy like this rabbit. 🐰🐇

A cartoon of a soldier and a munitions worker waving. They both look happy.

On Wednesday 8th April 2026 you can take the time for some creativity while exploring the museum and make your own poseable cardboard soldier or munitions worker to take away home.

This is include in admission to The Devil's Porridge Museum.

Learn more: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/wartime-char...

An early 20th century postcard depicting a man walking after a woman in a forest who is giving him some terrible side-eye. He has his arms outstretched pleadingly towards her. A sliced tomato is above him in circle. The text at the bottom of the image reads 'The Language of Vegetables / Tomatoes / An Acquired Taste. Wait! Love will come.'

Some relationship advice from this early 20th century postcard: Don't keep telling her about how much you love tomatoes dude she's clearly over it.

If it had been porridge sparks would be flying. 💥😂

Thanks to all our research volunteers for their help to make our Worker of the Week posts possible! 👏

#WorkeroftheWeek

A man with a neutral expression wearing a coat. This is Eric De Clemont in a black and white photo from the past.

On Wednesday's we have been sharing the story of someone from H.M. Factory Gretna. Our first one in April this year is Eric De Clemont. Unfortunately this is a sad one, as Eric died during his time working at the factory.

Learn more: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/worker-of-th...

#WorkeroftheWeek

A table covered with Easter crafting materials, including paper, feathers and stickers. Three children are drawing with crayons, but only their hands and arms are shown.

Feeling creative? 🎨

Tomorrow we have FREE drop-in Easter Craft Activities from 2pm to 4pm.

Why not join us for some Easter and Spring themed crafts? You'll make something to take home with you.🐣🐇

Learn more and check out what else we have coming up here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/easter-craft...

Ivy Herbert - Gretna’s Music Teacher - The Devil's Porridge Museum Written and researched by Stuart Gibbs In 1994 an article by P L Scowcroft highlighting the knowledge gap of British women composers was published on Music Web. On figure highlighted...

Wondering why she held piano lessons?

Find out this and more about Ivy here: www.devilsporridge.org.uk/ivy-herbert-...

(Please be aware that this blog post was first written in November 2021)

#WomensHistoryMonth #PianoDay

Ivy Herbet sat playing a piano. This is an archive black and white photo from the past.

Did you know that today is the 89th day of the year, which means yesterday was the 88th day of the year, so yesterday was... World Piano Day? 🎹🎵

Do you know who was good at playing the piano? Ivy Herbet. She held piano lessons in the Gretna Institute in 1916.

#WomensHistoryMonth #PianoDay

Home - The Devil's Porridge Museum The Devil's Porridge Museum is a 5 star, family friendly, museum. We tell the story of WW1, muntions factory, H.M. Factory Gretna.

💥Last entry into The Devil's Porridge Museum will remain at 45 minutes before we close.

Why not start planning your visit? We have some explosive history to share with you.

Learn more: www.devilsporridge.org.uk

#VisitDevilsPorridge #TheDevilsPorridgeMuseum #MyDevilsPorridgeVisit #DevilsPorridge

The Devil's Porridge Museum building from outside. WW1 fireless locomotive, Sir James is in the background.

Here's your reminder that our museum opening hours will be changing next week. ⏰

💥Until Sunday 29th March 2026 our opening hours are 10am to 5pm on Monday to Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

💥Starting from Monday 30th March 2026, our opening hours will be 10am to 4:30pm on Monday to Sunday.

🤯 Maud has an OBE and it's been over 100 years since she worked at H.M Factory Gretna, yet most people have never heard of her...

We know this is a big ask... 👀
but we're over half way there...
is there any chance we can get our original post about her to 1,000 likes for Women's History Month? 🙏
🤞

YAY! Someone found the Wikipedia page! 🎉

Our research volunteers helped with that too! 🤩

Maud Bruce stood next to a bench wearing her munitions workers uniform from H.M. Factory Gretna. This is a black and white photo from the past.

Maud lived to celebrate her 100th Birthday! 🎂🎁

If you would like to read Maud's Story you can read more about her here:
www.devilsporridge.org.uk/the-marvelou...

Please be aware this blog was written in June 2021. Thanks to all involved. 👏 😀

#WomensHistoryMonth #WorkeroftheWeek

A portrait photo of Maud Bruce. She is wearing a munitions uniform. This is a black and white photo from the past.

Meet the AMAZING Maud Bruce! 🤩

Bravely, she helped to put out fires at H.M. Factory Gretna. Due to her brave actions she was awarded a medal (a very important one). 🎖️

That's not all! She later went on to work at Royal Ordnance Factory (ROF) Aycliffe in WW2.

#WomensHistoryMonth #WorkeroftheWeek