Norman Cross
Norman Cross, just outside Peterborough, is a scheduled monument and the site of the world’s first purpose built prisoner of war camp during the Napoleonic Wars of the late 1700s.
Nene Park Trust has now taken ownership of the site to preserve it and share its story, thanks to funding from Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The historic site in Cambridgeshire, which dates from 1796, has been purchased by Nene Park Trust with £200,000 grant funding from Historic England and £50,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The site purchase secures the future of this unique Scheduled Monument, which contains the earthwork and buried remains of the prison camp that housed around 7,000 French prisoners during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.
The camp, which operated from 1797 to 1814, functioned as a self-contained town with barracks, offices, a hospital, school, marketplace and banking system.
The site is particularly renowned for the remarkable craftwork produced by the prisoners, who created intricate items from bone and straw to sell at the camp market. Over 800 of these items – considered the largest and finest collection of prisoners of war craftwork in the world – are housed at Peterborough Museum & Art Gallery.
The site is also home to the remains of 1,770 French, Dutch and German prisoners who died during their time at the camp and who are memorialised at the nearby Norman Cross Eagle Monument. This project ensures that these former soldiers remain at peace and that their stories can be told today and in the future.
The acquisition of the Norman Cross site fulfils the ambition of long-term resident and supporter, Derek Lopez, who sadly passed away before seeing his vision completed. Derek and his family were hugely supportive of this project and its culmination is a fitting tribute to this remarkable man.
Developing our Visitor Experience
There isn’t currently full public access to the whole Norman Cross field due to health and safety concerns from large trees, hidden wells and also grazing animals.
However, we have developed a viewing area on the site, which can be accessed at all times from the road. Visitors can find out more about the site and can access the video and digital interpretation from QR codes on the interpretation panels.
Norman Cross Depot – A Living Legacy
Take a look at these two films by One to One Development Trust.
Developing Guided Walks and Talks
Thanks to further funding from Historic England we are developing a series of guided walks and talks around the Norman Cross site with the help of an enthusiastic group of volunteers. Look out for more information on our events pages for dates coming up.
