152 Central Avenue, Gretna

Raymond Unwin and C M Crickmer designed this group of houses in 1917 as part of the purpose-built munitions workers' village of Gretna. The development consists of two symmetrical terraces, each comprising three blocks of four houses, linked by low porches and facing one another across a wide central avenue.

The houses are constructed in red brick, an unusual material for domestic Scottish buildings. The two inner blocks feature two advanced square bays, while the outer blocks are L-plan with three terminal bays set forward. Original doors were paired and contained within semi-circular arched heads, alongside side lights within the same arched openings. The buildings are topped with piended slate roofs and have brick end and axial chimney stacks. Two blocks are now pebble-dashed, though the original glazing pattern of small-paned timber sash windows is visible in early photographs, although much original glazing and many doors have since been replaced.

These houses form the architectural centrepiece of Gretna village, which was designed according to Garden City principles. Built between 1916 and 1918, the entire township was created to house workers for the nearby munitions factory, which stretched nine miles along the Solway banks and produced Cordite explosives. The factory was constructed in response to a wartime shortage of ammunition for British troops. Thousands of workers were brought from across Britain and Ireland, requiring both temporary timber housing and permanent brick buildings.

The township was laid out with green spaces, a wide central street containing shops and community facilities, and curving residential streets. In addition to housing, the development included churches, a dance hall, school and cinema to serve the workers and their families. The houses were originally built as dormitories but were designed so they could be converted to private housing.

Raymond Unwin (1863-1940), one of the most important figures in early 20th century British town planning, oversaw the development while Courtnay M Crickmer (1879-1971), a London-based architect, served as resident architect. Unwin was already known for his work on Letchworth Garden City and Hampstead Garden Suburb, and advocated high standards of design for social housing with informal planning approaches. Crickmer had also worked with Unwin at both Letchworth and Hampstead.

After the First World War, the munitions factory was dismantled, with only fragmentary remains now visible.