| Summary : The site of a Second World War prisoner of war camp identified from air photograph, known as Racecourse Camp or Camp 74. This was a purpose-built, standard type camp. Common buildings and facilities at standard type camps included water towers, offices, officer's mess, a canteen, guard rooms, barrack huts, ablution blocks, cell blocks, a camp reception station (medical facility/hospital), a cookhouse, dining rooms, recreation rooms and living huts or tents. It functioned as a German working camp, where prisoners were sent out to work as labourers in the local area. It could have been in use up until 1948. A field investigation in 1997 showed that the camp had been demolished and cleared away and its site partly covered by a MAFF Buffer Depot. |
More information : SJ 540 637. A military camp, interpreted as a Prisoner of War Camp, is visible on historic air photographs to the west of Tarporley. The camp had been demolished by 1953 and the majority of its site returned to pasture. Part of its site was, however, kept in government control and a MAFF strategic food store or Buffer Depot was built on part of its site (SJ 56 SW 15).
The site is under arable cultivation and a cursory investigation of the area found no upstanding remains. (1-3)
A Second World War prisoner of war camp called Racecourse Camp, Road Street, Tarporley (SJ 5407 6372). This was a purpose-built, standard type camp. Common buildings and facilities at standard type camps included water towers, offices, officer's mess, a canteen, guard rooms, barrack huts, ablution blocks, cell blocks, a camp reception station (medical facility/hospital), a cookhouse, dining rooms, recreation rooms and living huts or tents. It functioned as a German working camp. The camp has been removed, but footprints may survive. (4) |