POW camp on the hill..

Mikeymutt · Nov 15, 2018

During the Second World War prisoner of war camps sprung up around the uk.hundreds of temporary camps were built around the country.after the war these camps swelled with ranks of prisoners.nearly four hundred thousand were housed in camps.the prisoners were fairly well treated in the camps and often allowed out to do work on the land.breakout attempts were rare as life was quite comfortable and the camps became little communities for the prisoners.sasly most of the camps have not disappeared from the land.still there are some about.some restored to museums.visited this one with man gone wrong a while back.the sheds as expected are a bit of a mess having been used by the farmer.the main housing billets were rather large.shaped in a H shaped design.some original features still existed like fire places and original fire places.

KPUrban_ · Nov 15, 2018

That Mini is something special. Awesome photos as usual.

Sabtr · Nov 16, 2018

Oh wow! I've never come across a building like that one - all I seem to find are small bunkers and other 'tough' structures.
That's a very useful building - wish I could afford to waste one like that.
The fire places - they're awesome (I love real fires) and something I've not seen before. They seem quite out of place in those rooms now.

This has set me off. I know of a steel building with similar designs to that. Could well be a quarry building (It's inside an old overgrown quarry) but there's also a badly rusted Nissen hut in the quarry too. Probably re-purposed but have lain derelict for decades. I smell an explore coming on!

Anyone wanting the Mini, they can have it. I can't bend to fit in one these days!

Mikeymutt · Nov 16, 2018

KPUrbex said:
That Mini is something special. Awesome photos as usual.

Thank you very much

Mikeymutt · Nov 16, 2018

Sausage said:
Oh wow! I've never come across a building like that one - all I seem to find are small bunkers and other 'tough' structures.
That's a very useful building - wish I could afford to waste one like that.
The fire places - they're awesome (I love real fires) and something I've not seen before. They seem quite out of place in those rooms now.

This has set me off. I know of a steel building with similar designs to that. Could well be a quarry building (It's inside an old overgrown quarry) but there's also a badly rusted Nissen hut in the quarry too. Probably re-purposed but have lain derelict for decades. I smell an explore coming on!

Anyone wanting the Mini, they can have it. I can't bend to fit in one these days!

Thank you.it was not just one building.there was lots of buildings.these photos were taken over several buildings.the fire places are lovely ain't they.wondered if they kept the buildings warm enough.I think you should investigate yoir little find

krela · Nov 17, 2018

This is lovely Mikey, thank you.

Dirus_Strictus · Nov 17, 2018

The vast majority of these camps were not 'POW' camps in the true sense for very long. After the Italian surrender had been fully implemented, they very quickly became 'displaced persons' camps and the inmates quickly added to the agricultural labour force. They certainly were not let out as a favour - food was so short due to the blockade and conscription; the Ministries of Food and Supply were very relieved when Italy surrendered and POW's suddenly became displaced persons (POW's under the Geneva Convention were not to be put to gainful work for their captors). The rather 'luxury' build of fireplaces etc., indicate that this was probably a more permanent displaced persons camp eventually, that housed higher Ranks and other people of interest after the Italian surrender. One of my Uncles was a Captain in the Military Police and he was in charge of a unit that visited this and other UK POW facilities; looking for war criminals and fascist sympathisers. Some of his old records make interesting reading - especially the ones made before the Italian surrender.