Description

Geoffry Lucas, dated 1917. Church in Arts and Crafts tradition. Bull-faced red ashlar with polished dressings; slate roofs; openings mostly round-headed with recessed margins. Aisled nave, porch at SW and massive square tower base at SE; full- height chancel with gabled small side chapels; buttressed gables; shallow W porch; apex belfry between chancel and nave.

Interior: pointed-arched nave arcades on plain octagonal columns, vaulted ceiling with plaster ribs; font at W with crocketted timber cover; panelled sanctuary with Comperesque English altar screen.

Statement of Interest

Place of Worship in use as such. All Saints Church is situated at the key crossroads in Gretna village and is a significant central building in the town. Built in red brick, it is notable for its small windows and deep overhanging roof to the nave. It is built in red sandstone, which sets it apart from the more usual red brick of the housing in Gretna. The massive, square tower-base was intended for a tower, which was never built.

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, with a wide, central street with shops and community facilities and other, curving streets. The chief designer Raymond Unwin, was appointed by the government, with Courtnay 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 included several churches, a dance hall, a school and a 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 a 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.

Geoffry Lucas (1872-1947). His practice was based in Hichin, Hertfordshire and he worked predominantly in this area. He carried out some work for Hampstead Garden Suburb. All Saints Episcopal Church and Rectory are his only known buildings in Scotland.

Notes and References updated, 2012.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17803622

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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