159 Central Avenue, Gretna

159 Central Avenue, Gretna

This is a pair of symmetrical terraces forming the central core of Gretna village, designed by Raymond Unwin with Courtnay M Crickmer as site architect and built in 1917 for munitions workers. Each terrace comprises three blocks, each containing four houses, linked by low porches and facing one another across a wide avenue.

The buildings are constructed of red brick, an unusual material for domestic architecture in Scotland. Two of the blocks are now part 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 are L-plan with three terminal bays set forward. The original inner doors are paired, with doors and side lights all contained within semi-circular arched heads. The roofs are piended slate with brick end and axial chimney stacks.

These terraces line the central street through Gretna village, which was designed along Garden City principles. The piended roofs, prominent chimney stacks, advanced bays, round-arched entrances and small round windows create distinctive architectural interest. The houses were originally designed as dormitories for factory workers, but were built in such a way that they could be converted into private housing.

Gretna township was constructed between 1916 and 1918 to house workers for a nearby munitions factory that stretched for nine miles along the banks of the Solway and produced Cordite explosives. The government commissioned the factory during the First World War to address a shortage of ammunition for British troops. Thousands of workers were brought in from across Britain and Ireland. The township was planned with green spaces, a wide central street with shops and community facilities, and curving streets following Garden City principles. In addition to housing, the township included churches, a dance hall, a school and a cinema. After the war the factory was dismantled, with few remnants remaining.

Raymond Unwin (1863–1940) was one of the most important figures in early 20th-century British town planning and the overseeing architect for Gretna's development. He advocated high standards of design for social housing and informality of planning, and is best known for his planning of Letchworth Garden City and Hampstead Garden Suburb. Courtnay M Crickmer (1879–1971) was a London-based architect who served as resident architect for Gretna township and had also worked with Unwin at Letchworth and Hampstead Garden Suburb.

Many original windows and doors have been replaced with various materials and glazing patterns. Early photographs of Gretna show the original small-pane timber sash and case windows.