Pow Camps Details Issue 3-17
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Banged Up Abroad 1 Research and Notes The information and specifically the tables within this document are a key part of my research into my Banged up Aboard project in which I am seeking to capture as a series of documentary and indexed images the site of the former World War Two (WWII) Prisoner of War (PoW) sites in England, Scotland and Wales1. In complying this data it has become evident that the Camp numbers for whatever reason have been duplicated and a camp may have had more than one number as such it is acknowledged that discrepancies exist within not just my table but also with the source information. This may have in some cases camps being moved from one location to another, a camp being divided and given two number such as one for German one for Italian, or one number for Officers and a different number for other ranks. Also many “Subcamps exist for which I have in the most part been unable to obtain the Camp, in cases like this they have been given a nominal number of 00. The intent is to capture the sites as they are now although as part of the research, I will also be accumulating images and data as to the sites when they were in use during and slightly after the end of WWII. It is intended that the images captured as part of this project will form a historic data source for other to come. This as a project is being undertaken by myself Martin J Richards as an integral part of a Mater in Arts Degree being undertaken by myself through the University of Falmouth: Martin J Richards BA(Hons) ARPS [email protected] [email protected] www.systonimages.co.uk https://systonimagesblog.wordpress.com/ https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=17IZRxuX4uc78_KP5EBdWCD44x0pXaSsc&ll=53.95552704319698%2C- 1.9461109999999735&z=6 It is anticipated that in addition to the basic documentary images produced as part of this project other images and videos along with written work will be produced for formal exhibition. In addition to the exhibition the intent is to create Maps, Photobook(s) available on a dedicated website. THIS IS A LIVING DRAFT DOCUMENT AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE. IT IS ADVISED NOT TO CREATE LINKS TO THIS DOCUMENT ITSELF RATHER UNTIL FORMALLY PUBLISHED LINK TO THE SITES ALREADY QUOTED On visiting the sites of the former PoW Camps I will be when and where possible be talking photographs of that site. This document thus will contain links to my Personal Image Website in which ALL the images shot during my visit will be posted. The Date of each visit to the site will be included within this document and links provided to access the images shot during that visit. In general my personal website will contain copies of all the images shot as part of this project and will be stored by UK Regional Areas. In addition, the images will also be accessible by Module Number of my Masters Degree Course with the University of Falmouth. Also, a separate index will be maintained for Drone Images as well as “Composite Images” such as Panoramic and HDR. The information with regards to the location of the PoW Camps is ONLY as accurate as the information that my research has thus far revealed. UNLESS the location has the statement << Location >> << Verified >> then it means that the information that I have maybe of a single source and MUST be regarded as “In the General Area”. For convenience the original table has been divided into five separate tables covering; Northern and Southern England, Midlands & East Anglia, Scotland and Wales. A further division is made in each table as to the county. PoW Camps in Northern England ............................................................................................... 4 PoW Camps in Midlands and East Anglia ................................................................................ 27 PoW Camps in Sothern England .............................................................................................. 81 PoW Camps in Scotland ......................................................................................................... 139 PoW Camps in Wales ............................................................................................................. 159 1 Note: Northern Island, The Channel Islands and the Isle of Mann are NOT included within this project Page 1 of 174 2 Up-Dates 2.1 Issue 1-00 Series This was the initial issue of this document and coincided with the 1st module of my Masters Degree in Photography with the University of Falmouth: PHO701: Positions & Practice. 2.2 Issue 2-00 Series The issue 2 series is linked to the second module of my MA - PHO702: Informing Contexts. This issue series was if you like the point in which I started to make practical progress within both my MA and this project. During this issue series the document grew my a lot as such I had to split it from one table to the five. 2.3 Issue 3-00 Series This issue series is associated with the third module of my MA PHO703: Surfaces & Strategies. It is now in the Spring and Summer of 2019 that I am starting to rack up the number of sites covered. Issue 3-17 is intended to be the final Issue 3 series copy of this document as it marks the completion of camp visits and the addition of data carried out though May to August 2019 as part of PHO703: Surfaces & Strategies. Martin J Richards BA(Hons) ARPS [email protected] [email protected] www.systonimages.co.uk https://systonimagesblog.wordpress.com/ Last up-date of this document 03Aug19 Page 2 of 174 3 Map and Location This map shows the locations of the camps identified within this document. Blue = Yet to visit Amber = Visited Black = Remains a Military Site Purple = Yet to visit and of significate interest Grey = Visited and Revisit need Page 3 of 174 4 PoW Camps in Northern England Table 1 Northern England 2 3 Camp Name & Location County 1947 Location Type & Cmd 1947 Officer Cmd 1947 Phone & Telex 1947 Train Station Interest Con Status 2019 Comments and Site Visit M J Richards 1947 2019 2 Toft Hall Camp Cheshire SJ 7538 7626 BC Lt Col J S Windsor Knutsford 560 Knutsford 4 Original report from English Heritage, states: Knutsford WA16 9PD 53° 16' 57" N Western Cmd MC Priscamp Knutsford Large camp in parkland to northeast of Toft Hall, 20 huts in guards’ compound, 58 within prisoners' compound 2° 22' 14" W WE V/202/4 enclosed by a double perimeter fence with guard towers. 01Mar19 OS Map Aerial views show the Park, woods and scrub land with no evidence of huts or any indication of a camp on this site other than the hall itself. Thus contrasts with the original comments which say that ere are visible indications of the camp. However, just using Aerial Map views I cannot confirm or deny National Archives Reference FO 939/85 2 Base Camp, Toft Hall Camp, Knutsford, Cheshire. 24 No.4 General Hospital Cheshire SJ 75 78 tbd 4 01Mar19 (Military Hospital WA16 9DG 53° 17' 54" N See Knutsford 2° 22' 35" W https://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news/4627320.readers-help-joan-leach-to-solve-myster-of-knutsford- army-hospital/ Without more data it is not possible to confirm the location of this former PoW site from just the two-digit coordinate and looking at the maps National Archives Reference FO 939/108 24 Hospital Camp, Military Hospital, Knutsford, Cheshire 27Mar19 Camp 24 not included within the FO Camp list. Therefore, it is logical to assume that this camp closed prior to Feb47. 2 Note Postcodes are to the nearest postcode ONLY as the sites where created and redeveloped prior to the introduction of postcodes. Also many sites are in the middle of fields that not have codes thus they are intended as indicative 3 Note: Coordinates given as UK National Grid and Lat/Long. This is to the closest know location and it is suggested that you check the comments for the entry as well as a map aerial view prior to any site visit Page 4 of 174 Table 1 Northern England 2 3 Camp Name & Location County 1947 Location Type & Cmd 1947 Officer Cmd 1947 Phone & Telex 1947 Train Station Interest Con Status 2019 Comments and Site Visit M J Richards 1947 2019 74 Racecourse Camp Cheshire SJ 5822 6535 GWC Lt Col B M Tarporley 208 Besston Castle Visited 3 01Mar19 Heldman Road Street CW6 9BH SU 328 704 Western Cmd Priswar Tarporley 11May19 OS Map Aerial views shows a large field on Road Street that could have been a Racecourse. However, this is very Tarporley unlikely. 51° 25' 54" N WE V/1453/2 1° 31' 43" W There is though racecourse close by called Oulton Park. Revisit needed The Wikipedia entry for Oulton Park Race Course gives the site as being used for car racing. It also says that this location << Location >> now was used as a stating camp by the US army before the Normandy landings. << Verified >> location This is atypical site usage as camps like this where used before D-Day to hold troops and then after the troops left, they confirmed were converted and used as PoW Camps. This is what happened to two camps close to my home address in Leicestershire: Camp 4 Scraptoft & Camp 167 Stoughton. The Wikipedia entry can be found at the address below: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oulton_Park Given this data I am changing the location: From SJ 5407 6372 To SJ 5913 6440 I have in the saved Aerial Map view dropped a marker on the new location at the racing circuit AND I have drawn around the site that matches English Heritages Coordinates. National Archives Reference FO 939/154 74 Working Camp, Racecourse Camp, Tarporley, Cheshire 15Mar19 From RPS Help Request, Andrew Williams: Camp 74 Oulton Park - This may be a red herring but there is a road off the A49 near to the motor racing track called Racecourse Lane.