The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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POW Camp (198) Special Camp IX

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 02214m
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Merthyr Mawr
Unitary authority : Bridgend
NGR : SS89857845
Site Type (preferred type first) : Modern Prisoner of war camp

Summary :
Built as a barrack for munitions workers in the late 1930s adopted as POW camp 1943 site of only major escape by German prisoners from hut 9 2214m

Description :
Built as a barrack for munitions workers in the late 1930s, left unused until 1943 when American troops were housed there, before it was converted to a POW (prisoner of war) camp, and became the site of only major escape by German prisoners from hut 9. The camp was originally constructed during the late 1930s as a barracks to house women employed at the Bridgend munitions factory. The accommodation was unpopular, however, and the buildings remained unused until 1943, when American troops were housed there.

The barracks were converted to a prisoner of war camp shortly after the Normandy Landings in 1944, with accommodation for nearly 200 German and Italian soldiers. During the night of the 10th March 1945, 67 prisoners escaped from Hut 9 (02215m/31803/LB11362). This was the largest escape of German prisoners during World War II, although all were subsequently recaptured. The last of the 1634 prisoners were transferred to Camp 181 in Worksop, Nottinghamshire on the 31st March 1945, after which Island Farm was designated Special Camp XI.

The new camp held senior German officers awaiting trial on war crime charges. They included some of Hitler's closest advisers, including General Feldmarschalls Rundstedt, Manstein, Kleist and Brauchitsch. The last prisoners left the camp in May 1948, and the camp was officially closed. The remains of the camp were demolished in 1994, with the exception of Hut 9.

The remains of the camp's well-fare building exist as a large concrete pad and a series of concrete and brick steps. A number of the prison huts survive as concrete and brick bases, while the concrete paths running between the various buildings are still largely extent. Graded demolition material from the buildings still remains on site. (Sherman 2009)

Sources :
Sherman, A , 2009 , Island Farm, Bridgend: Archaeological desk based assessment and ASHIDOHL ( © GGAT)
02/mm desc text/Cadw//1990/Listed Building List/
01/pm desc text///1990/After the Battle/no 67 p28-39;
2000/HOWELL/JK/ISLAND FARM, BRIDGEND/ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT/A634/GGAT REPORT 2000/067

Events :
E003172 : Island Farm, Bridgend (year : 2009)
E002543 : Bridgend Science Park (year : 2001)
E006070 : Hut 9 Tunnel, Island Farm (year : 2013)

Related records
National Monuments Record NPRN 31802 http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/31802/details
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02215m
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 08719m

Compiled date : 09-10-1991


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