A camp for French and Dutch soldiers and sailors was built at
Norman Cross during the Napoleonic War. Between 1796 and 1816
roughly 10,000 prisoners were held there, of whom at least 1,700
died and were buried in the Camp's cemetery. Several thousand
English troops were stationed there as well, to guard the prisoners
of war.
Huntingdon Record Office has microfilm copies of some records
concerning the Camp now held at the National Archives in Kew,
including the general entry books of Dutch and French prisoners.
Huntingdon Record Office also have a list of all known marriages
between English soldiers and local women, and of baptisms of any of
their children, compiled from Stilton and Glatton parish
registers.
Peterborough Central Library holds a site plan of the buildings
at the Norman Cross Depot for prisoners of War, 1911.
Models made by the prisoners of war can today be seen at
Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery and at the Norris Museum in St
Ives.
Printed sources:
- The depot for prisoners of war at Norman Cross, 1796 to 1816 by
TJ Walker (Constable & Co 1913., second edition 1915).
- 'Report of the unveiling on 28 July 1914 of the L'Entente
Cordiale Society's memorial', in, Peterborough Natural History,
Scientific & Archaeological Society's 41-43 Annual Report for
1912-1914 [a combined report published 1915 ?], pp43-53.
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