Historic England research records

Historic England Research Records

HMP North Sea Camp
Hob Uid: 1119677
Location : Lincolnshire Boston Fishtoft
Grid Ref : TF3770040000
Summary : A mid 20th century borstal and later juvenile prison, used as a World War II military camp. Major William W Llewellin led a group of about twenty young offenders from Stafford prison on a march to the Lincolnshire coast south-east of Boston on 23rd May 1935. They arrived at the mouth of the river Witham, south of Freiston, on 31st May. The boys lived in tents while they built new hutted accommodation for the borstal. The inmates also commenced the reclamation of the Freiston and Butterwick outmarshes. The site was a military camp during World War II and pill boxes and gun emplacements survive. North Sea Camp remained a borstal until 1964 when it became an open detention centre for senior boys. In September 1987 the detention centre closed and the prison reopened in July 1988 as an open prison for adult males. By 1985 over 28 miles of dykes had been constructed and over 1000 acres of saltmarsh had been reclaimed for farmland. It is used both as pasture for 3000 sheep and 2000 pigs, and as arable land for vegetables and some grain. The original buildings were constructed of corrugated concrete and asbestos sheets. The gymnasium is a brick building of the mid 20th century. A chapel was built in 1954, constructed of concrete piers and brick panels with concrete trusses bolted to the piers. The main buildings of the prison are situated to the west side of the Roman Bank, the existing sea bank. East of the bank are farms and gardens, including green houses, a piggery barns and stores.
More information : A mid-20th-century Borstal, opening in 1935, used as a WW2 military camp, and finally from 1988 became an adult prison. The original staff and inmates, from Stafford Prison, built a new sea bank in front of the prison and reclaimed land behind for farming until 1979. (2)

Sources :

Source Number : 1
Source :
Source details : 1937. Reports of the Prison Commissioners, 1935, 22,35
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Source Number : 2
Source :
Source details : Gazetteer Reference FR41, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment
Page(s) :
Figs. :
Plates :
Vol(s) :

Monument Types:

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : By 1995.
Monument End Date : 1995
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Open Training Prison, Gatehouse, Kitchen, Refectory, Storehouse, Garage, Clinic, Chapel, Office, Hospital, Boiler House, Glasshouse, Piggery, Barn
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : By 1985.
Monument End Date : 1985
Monument Start Date :
Monument Type : Juvenile Prison, Flood Defences, Farm
Evidence : Extant Building, Earthwork, Botanical Feature

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : Built in mid 20th century.
Monument End Date : 1966
Monument Start Date : 1933
Monument Type : Borstal, Gymnasium (Sports)
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : Built in 1935.
Monument End Date : 1935
Monument Start Date : 1935
Monument Type : Borstal, Hut
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : Becomes a military camp in 1939.
Monument End Date : 1939
Monument Start Date : 1939
Monument Type : Pillbox, Gun Emplacement, Military Camp
Evidence : Extant Building, Structure

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : Built in 1954.
Monument End Date : 1954
Monument Start Date : 1954
Monument Type : Borstal, Chapel
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : Becomes an open detention centre, 1964.
Monument End Date : 1964
Monument Start Date : 1964
Monument Type : Juvenile Prison
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : Closes between 1987 and 1988.
Monument End Date : 1987
Monument Start Date : 1987
Monument Type : Juvenile Prison
Evidence : Extant Building

Monument Period Name : 20th Century
Display Date : Reopens as adult male open prison, 1988.
Monument End Date : 1988
Monument Start Date : 1988
Monument Type : Open Training Prison
Evidence : Extant Building

Components and Objects:

Related Records from other datasets:

External Cross Reference Source : NBR Index Number
External Cross Reference Number : 93828
External Cross Reference Notes :

External Cross Reference Source : National Monuments Record Number
External Cross Reference Number : TF 34 SE 31
External Cross Reference Notes :

Related Warden Records :

Related Activities :

Associated Activities :
Activity type : ARCHITECTURAL SURVEY
Start Date : 1995-01-01
End Date : 1998-12-01

Historic England Research Records

HMP North Sea Camp