Napoleonic Norman Cross Site In Cambridgeshire Saved For The Nation
People across the UK will soon be able to discover for themselves the remarkable story of Norman Cross – the world's first purpose-built prisoner-of-war camp – following its successful acquisition for the nation.
The historic site in Cambridgeshire, which dates from 1796, has been purchased by Nene Park Trust with £200,000 in grant funding from Historic England and £50,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The acquisition 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, a school, a marketplace, and a 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 prisoner-of-war craftwork in the world – can be found 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 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.
Future Plans
Currently, there is no public access to the site. Nene Park Trust are developing plans to enable visitors to explore the area while ensuring that the land is farmed sympathetically to preserve the archaeological remains beneath.
It is hoped that Norman Cross will become a new green space close to Peterborough, celebrating its remarkable heritage while providing wellbeing benefits for local communities.
A launch event planned for September aims to introduce the public to this hidden historic gem.
The Norman Cross prisoner-of-war camp represents a pivotal moment in our shared European heritage that deserves to be better known. After years of work to secure this site, we're delighted that our partnership work with Nene Park Trust, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Lopez family has helped to save this internationally significant monument for the nation.
Norman Cross represents a poignant chapter in our shared European story. The remarkable stories of those held in what was the first purpose-built prisoner-of-war camp should be remembered now and in the future. This partnership has secured this valuable heritage site for generations to come.
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