Chapelcross and its place in Solway Heritage

5 Dec 2019 12:39 PM

This project involved creating a permanent record of the former Chapelcross nuclear power station as an exhibition in the local Devil’s Porridge Museum. The exhibition features Chapelcross employees and its contribution to the Scottish Solway Border communities.

Nearest NDA site Duration Total investment Magnox contribution Partners Delivered by
Chapelcross 2 years £100,000 £36,000 Big Lottery, Holywood Trust Eastriggs and Gretna Heritage Group

Infographic summary of the project

Outcome:

Chapelcross nuclear site has had a major economic and social impact on Annan, Eastriggs and Gretna communities over 60 years, bringing prosperity and expertise to the area.

Its important history has been recorded using various media for the benefit of future generations and is part of the displays at the Devil’s Porridge Museum (named after the explosive mixture manufactured at a now-demolished wartime munitions factory).

Rene Anderson, former Chapelcross Employee yesterday said:

Since participating in the Chapelcross Oral Report, I have been very impressed to see how the material from this project has been incorporated into the digital interactive experience. This has recorded for future generations the history of the Chapelcross nuclear power station – one of the area’s largest and most important employers for over half a century.

John Grierson, Chapelcross Site Closure Director, yesterday said:

Chapelcross, over its almost 60-year history, has always endeavoured to support the local community in a variety of projects. This new permanent exhibition is a great way to strengthen this connection.

What was involved?

Research was carried out into Chapelcross and past employees were interviewed. Design consultants brought the story to life by creating interactive displays. These involved 360° panoramas, oral testimonies by staff who had worked on construction through to decommissioning. Chapelcross management provided access to the reactor areas, and the video footage was used to create a virtual reality (VR) experience. An Access and Learning Officer engaged with young people over 12 months.

What worked well?

Past employees were happy to share their experiences and were pleased their history had been preserved at the museum.

It was a mutually beneficial project as the museum gained an exciting interactive display while Chapelcross was given a detailed snapshot in time of some important areas of the site during the decommissioning process.

Visitors now have a better understanding of how a nuclear power stations work, their purpose and what’s behind the security fence.

Current plans include: