I've just spent a really interesting afternoon at Hut 9, Island Farm, Bridgend. As its only 10 miles from where I live I HAD to go.
Hut 9 is the sole remaining hut on a site that used to be a POW camp housing German inmates in the latter stages of the war.
The huts were originally constructed as dormitories for the nearby Bridgend ordnance works, a huge factory which employed 40000 people but didn't get used as the workers prefered to go home each day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROF_Bridgend
There followed a period when the Americans moved in and then later some very high ranking German prisoners were brought to the camp. There was also a mass escape when over 70 prisoners got out through a tunnel which was dug from hut 9.
The following web site gives some really good information about it.
http://www.islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/
The open day that I went to today was run by a volunteer group of people who are dedicated to preserving the history of the site. They were all very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and hard working, highly recommended. They have another open day tomorrow. Entry is free although I certainly felt a decent donation was needed.
The photographs show various images inside and outside the hut. There are a lot of drawings that were done by the POW's that were carefully removed from the walls of the other huts before they were tragically knocked down a few years ago.
Dave.
Hut 9 is the sole remaining hut on a site that used to be a POW camp housing German inmates in the latter stages of the war.
The huts were originally constructed as dormitories for the nearby Bridgend ordnance works, a huge factory which employed 40000 people but didn't get used as the workers prefered to go home each day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ROF_Bridgend
There followed a period when the Americans moved in and then later some very high ranking German prisoners were brought to the camp. There was also a mass escape when over 70 prisoners got out through a tunnel which was dug from hut 9.
The following web site gives some really good information about it.
http://www.islandfarm.fsnet.co.uk/
The open day that I went to today was run by a volunteer group of people who are dedicated to preserving the history of the site. They were all very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and hard working, highly recommended. They have another open day tomorrow. Entry is free although I certainly felt a decent donation was needed.
The photographs show various images inside and outside the hut. There are a lot of drawings that were done by the POW's that were carefully removed from the walls of the other huts before they were tragically knocked down a few years ago.
Dave.
