200 Year old POW Camp in Huntingdonshire

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Saturday, 23 August 2025 - 7 minutes

Norman Cross Prison, just south of Peterborough, was built in 1796–97 as Britain struggled to contain the sheer number of captives taken during the French Revolutionary Wars. Designed to hold up to 7,000 men, it was laid out like a small town, with wooden barrack blocks, a hospital, chapel, and a market where prisoners traded handicrafts with local people. Most of those confined were French sailors and soldiers, guarded by a detachment of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. Conditions were harsh, with outbreaks of disease and a high death rate in the early years, though the camp became known for the remarkable craftsmanship of prisoners, who carved bone models and intricate objects later sold in London. Norman Cross remained in use until 1814, when peace returned with France. Today, little remains of the site, but a monument erected in 1914 commemorates those who died there.

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