Building record 4787/0/1 - WW2 prisoner of war hostel, south of Sulgrave

A temporary, hutted camp was located south of Sulgrave during the Second World War. It held Italian PoWs until 1946 and thereafter German PoWs. After the war it provided temporary accomodation for displaced families. The T-shaped bases are still visible on aerial photography and lidar imagery.

{1} This is largely demolished. Floors survive on top of foundations which stand over 1m high due to the slope of the land. The boundary fence is still depicted on 1:2,500 map. “The building was ‘T’ shaped in plan, with the base of the ‘T’ pointing towards the village.” If similar to others in the county this may originally have been built as a Land Army Hostel. When the war drew to a close some at least were then used as POW hostels, possibly as late as 1948, to house prisoners working on local farms.

{2} Photo of remains.

{3, 4} In 1943, the hostel was listed for Italian pows with Shalstone camp. In 1944 it was listed with Byfield Camp 87. Listed for German PoWs after 1945. There were over 50 PoWs listed in 1946, but the number declined thereafter. After the war it was used as accommodation for displaced families.

{5,6} The T-shaped base for the temporary accommodation is still visible on aerial photography and lidar imagery.

<1> Armishaw A., 2002, Letter, (unchecked) (Letter). SNN102101.

<2> Armishaw, A., 2002, Land Army & POW Hostel, (unchecked) (Photographs). SNN104604.

<3> Sanders, Malcolm, 2008, WW2 POW Camps in the UK, Camp 55 Shalstone(Accessed 17/01/2025) (Website). SNN115038.

<4> Sanders, Malcolm, 2008, WW2 POW Camps in the UK, Camp 87 Byfield (Accessed 17/01/2025) (Website). SNN115038.

<5> Environment Agency, LIDAR Composite DTM - 1m, Accessed 17/01/2025 (Digital Plots). SNN111710.

<6> Vertical Aerial Photograph, APGB latest 25cm (Accessed 17/01/2025) (Aerial Photograph(s)). SNN112695.

Record last edited

Jan 17 2025 10:04AM