162 Central Avenue, Gretna

162 Central Avenue, Gretna is part of a pair of symmetrical terraces designed by Raymond Unwin with C M Crickmer as resident architect. Built in 1917 to house munitions workers, the development comprises two rows of houses facing one another across a wide avenue. Each row consists of three blocks, with each block containing four houses, linked by low porches.

The buildings are constructed in brick, with two blocks now partly pebble-dashed. The original glazing consisted mostly of small-paned sash windows, though many have since been replaced. The inner house blocks feature two advanced square bays, while the outer blocks have an L-plan form with three terminal bays set forward. Original inner doors are paired, with doors and side lights all contained within semi-circular arched heads. The buildings have brick end and axial chimney stacks, and piended slate roofs.

These two rows form the central core of Gretna village, which was designed along Garden City principles. The houses line the central street through the village and are well-detailed and distinctive, with piended roofs, prominent chimney stacks and varied decorative details including advanced bays, round-arched entrances and small round windows. The use of red brick is unusual for domestic buildings in Scotland. The houses were originally built as dormitories for factory workers but were designed in such a way that they could be converted into private housing.

Gretna was constructed between 1916 and 1918 to provide housing and community facilities for workers at a nearby munitions factory producing Cordite explosives, which stretched for nine miles along the banks of the Solway. Thousands of workers were brought in from around Britain and Ireland, and both temporary timber and permanent brick housing was erected. The township was designed along Garden City lines with green spaces, a wide central street containing shops and community facilities, and curving streets. As well as housing, 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 remain.

Raymond Unwin, one of the most important figures in early 20th century British town planning, was the overseeing architect for Gretna's development, advocating high standards of design for social housing and informality of planning. He is best known for his planning of Letchworth Garden City and Hampstead Garden Suburb. C M Crickmer, a London-based architect, served as resident architect for Gretna's design and also worked with Unwin at Letchworth and Hampstead Garden Suburb.

Many original windows and doors have been replaced with a variety of materials and glazing patterns. Early photographs of Gretna show that the original glazing pattern predominantly consisted of small-pane timber sash and case windows.