Monument record 7132/1 - Eastcote Internment & Prisoner of War Camp (First World War)

Eastcote House and 60 acres of land were acquired during the early stages of the First World War for the establishment of an internment camp for German merchant seaman. After the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 Eastcote Camp was extended and became a Prisoner of War camp under War Office control. There were possibly up to 2,000 inhabitants which meant that considerable building works were undertaken on site to service them, including wood, brick and stone huts, a complete water-supply and sewage plant, and a hospital. It is also recorded that for recreation the inmates constructed model military landscapes, including a perfect copy of the Dardanelles.

{1} Copy of article from The Times of 13 May 1915; photo of the model fort and copy of postcard as used by inmates.

{2} Mr Nicol's list (September 1997) identifies Pattishall, Eastcote House with abbreviated sources. On page 20 of Mr Nicol 'Applied Studies Open Project 1996-7' there is a short text reference to the camp with references to local newspaper articles.

{3} Article by Burman details acquisition of a farmhouse, Eastcote House and 60 acres of land for establishment of an internment camp for German merchant seaman in the early stages of WWI. Wood, brick and stone huts erected. For recreation the inmates constructed a model port on a dammed tributary of the Nene with a model fort and village nearby. Article by Foden identifies that much of description by Burman appears to have been influenced by an article taken from The Times of May 15th 1915. After the sinking of the Lusitania in 1915 the Eastcote Camp was extended and became a PoW camp under War Office control. Detail re local burial of inmates. Foden refers to the "considerable works built on there below Eastcote House, a complete water-supply system, sewage plant, hospital and other installations now disappeared. The figure of a possible 2000 eventual inhabitants was mentioned."

{7} P.173 contrasts poor treatment of British in German hands with that of Germans at Eastcote, Northants. Photograph on page 224 with caption "Photograph supplied by the Y.M.C.A of German prisoners at Eastcote Camp, Towcester, with a perfect model of the Dardanelles which they constructed during captivity."

<1> Illingworth I., 1989, A Village Portrait, Photos 54-56 (unchecked) (Book). SNN39514.

<2> NICOL N., 1997, Listing of PoW Internment Camps, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN39670.

<3> NICOL N., 1999, The Chronicle and Echo, 14/10/1999 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN47548.

<4> FODEN F., 1992, The Chronicle and Echo, 14/12/1992 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN54735.

<5> Mark G., 2007, Prisoners of War in British Hands During WWI: A Study of Their History, The Camps and Their Mails, (unchecked) (Extract). SNN106262.

<6> Moss R.; Illingworth I., 2000, Pattishall: A Parish Patchwork, (unchecked) (Extract). SNN107080.

<7> Holloway W.H., Northamptonshire and The Great War, pp.170-7, 224 (unchecked) (Book). SNN103310.

<8> Chapman C.R.; Moss S.R., 2012, Detained In England 1914-1920: Eastcote POW Camp, Pattishall, (unchecked) (Book). SNN108651.

<9> Parliamentary Correspondent, 1915, Happy Prisoners- Attractive Camp for Enemy Seamen- Trade Union Enterprise (Newspaper cuttings). SNN113454.

Record last edited

Jan 17 2024 3:44PM