Editing Norman Cross Prison

{{Short description|Former prisoner-of-war camp in England}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
[[File:Norman Cross plan.jpg|thumb|300px|Plan of Norman Cross barracks and prison in 1813]]
'''Norman Cross Prison''' in [[Huntingdonshire]], England, was the world's first purpose-built [[prisoner-of-war camp]]<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1006782|desc=Site of the Norman Cross Depot for Prisoners of War}}</ref> or "depot". Constructed in 1796–97, it was designed to hold [[prisoners of war]] from France and its allies during the [[French Revolutionary Wars]] and [[Napoleonic Wars]]. By 1816, it had been largely demolished.

[[Norman Cross, Cambridgeshire|Norman Cross]], now in [[Cambridgeshire]], lies south of [[Peterborough]], between the villages of [[Folksworth]], [[Stilton]], and [[Yaxley, Cambridgeshire|Yaxley]]. The junction of the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]] and [[A15 road (England)|A15]] roads is here. Traditionally in Huntingdonshire, Norman Cross gave its name to one of the [[hundreds of Huntingdonshire]] and, from 1894 to 1974, to [[Norman Cross Rural District]].

==Design and construction of prison camp==
[[File:Norman Cross painting.jpg|thumb|A painting of Norman Cross c. 1797]]
The [[Royal Navy]] [[Transport Board (Royal Navy)|Transport Board]] was responsible for the care of [[prisoners of war]]. When [[Ralph Abercromby|Sir Ralph Abercromby]] communicated in 1796 that he was transferring 4,000 prisoners from the [[West Indies]], the Board began the search for a site for a new prison. The site was chosen because it was on the [[Great North Road (Great Britain)|Great North Road]] only {{convert|76|miles|km}} north of [[London]] and was deemed far enough from the coast that escaped prisoners could not easily flee back to [[France]]. The site had a good water supply and close to sufficient local sources of food to sustain many thousands of prisoners and the guards. Work commenced in December 1796 with much of the timber building prefabricated in London and assembled on site. 500 carpenters and labourers worked on the site for three months. The cost of construction was £34,581 11s 3d.<ref>{{cite journal|last= Monger|first= Garry|journal= The Fens|volume= 31|year= 2021|pages= 20–21|title= Fort in the Fens}}</ref>

The design of the prison was based on that of a contemporary artillery fort. A ditch {{convert|27|ft|m}} wide and about 5 feet deep (to prevent prisoners tunnelling out) was placed inside the wall (originally a wooden stockade fence, replaced with a brick wall in 1805) and guarded by 'silent sentries' who could not be seen by the prisoners. In 1797, "The prisoners constantly sawed the inner palings [of the stockade] close to the ground, so they could be removed and replaced at night without fear of detection. In this manner they often got through the inner palings, but in crossing to the outer were always recaptured."<ref name = Turton>Major Robert Bell Turton, ''The History of the North York Militia, now known as the Fourth Battalion Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment)'', Leeds: Whitehead, 1907/Stockton-on-Tees: Patrick & Shotton, 1973, ISBN 0-903169-07-X, pp. 72–3.</ref> The barracks for the garrison were placed outside and a large guard house (known as the [[Blockhouse|Block House]]) containing troops and six [[cannon]] was placed right at the centre. The interior of the prison was divided into four [[Quadrangle (architecture)|quadrangle]]s, each with four double-storey wooden accommodation blocks for 500 prisoners and four [[Washing|ablution]] blocks. One accommodation block was reserved for officers. Half of each quadrangle was a large exercise yard. The north-east quadrangle contained the prison hospital. There was also a windowless block known as the Black Hole in which prisoners were kept shackled on half rations as punishment, mainly for violence towards the guards although two prisoners were sent to the Black Hole for "[[sodomy|infamous vices]]".<ref name="Walker"/> 30 [[water well|well]]s were sunk to draw drinking water for the prisoners and garrison.

==Operation==
[[File:Norman Cross model.jpg|thumb|Model of Norman Cross by M. Foulley in the [[Musée de l'Armée]], Paris; photographed in 1913]]
The average prison population was about 5,500 men. The lowest number of prisoners recorded in any official document was 3,300 in October 1804 and the highest was 6,272 on 10 April 1810.<ref name="Walker"/>

Norman Cross was intended to be a model depot providing the most humane treatment of prisoners of war. Sir [[Rupert George]] was responsible for the "care and custody" of the French prisoners.<ref>[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101076879830&view=1up&seq=359 p. 865]</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hnf23u&view=1up&seq=370|title=A collection of state papers, relative to the war against France now carrying on by Great-Britain and the several other European powers|publisher=printed for J. Debrett}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark:/13960/t85h7f53f&view=1up&seq=61|title = The Naval chronicle :containing a general and biographical history of the royal navy of the United kingdom with a variety of original papers on nautical subjects /|publisher = J. Gold}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/politicalindext02beat/page/110/mode/1up/search/%22Rupert+George%22?q=%22Rupert+George%22|title = A political index to the histories of Great Britain & Ireland; or, A complete register of the hereditary honours, public offices, and persons in office, from the earliest periods to the present time|year = 1806}}</ref><ref>Walker, Thomas James. [https://archive.org/details/depotforprisoner00walkuoft/page/142/mode/1up/search/%22Rupert+George%22?q=%22Rupert+George%22 ''The depot for prisoners of war at Norman Cross, Huntingdonshire 1796 to 1816'', p. 142.]</ref>

Most of the men held in the prison were low-ranking soldiers and sailors, including midshipmen and junior officers, with a small number of [[privateers]]. About 100 senior officers and some civilians "of good social standing", mainly passengers on captured ships and the wives of some officers, were given ''[[Parole#Prisoners of war|parole d'honneur]]'' outside the prison, mainly in Peterborough, although some as far away as [[Northampton]], [[Plymouth]], [[Melrose, Scotland|Melrose]], and [[Abergavenny]].<ref name="Walker"/> They were afforded the courtesy of their rank within English society. Some "with good private means" hired servants and often dined out while wearing full uniform.<ref name="Walker"/> Three French officers died of natural causes while on parole and were buried with full military honours.<ref name="Walker"/> Four French officers and five Dutch officers married English women while on parole.<ref name="Walker"/> The most senior officer on parole from the prison was [[Charles Lefebvre-Desnouettes|General Charles Lefebvre-Desnouettes]] who resided with his wife in [[Cheltenham]] from 1809 until they escaped back to France in 1811. General {{ill|René-Martin Pillet|fr}} (1762–1816), Adjutant Commandant was confined here for breaking parole; he was allowed further parole and after again attempting to escape was sent to [[Chatham, Kent|Chatham]].<ref>{{cite news|title= Pillet, the Atrocious Calumniator |newspaper= Morning Post|date= 11 December 1815|page= 3}}</ref>

Among the prisoners in 1797 were Germans who had been conscripted into the French army. These were encouraged to enlist in the [[King's Royal Rifle Corps|60th Foot]], which was raising a rifle-armed 5th Battalion in imitation of German ''[[Jäger (infantry)|jägers]]''.<ref name = Turton/>

===Clothing===
The French prisoners, whose main pastime was gambling, were accused by the British government of selling their clothes and few personal possessions to raise money for further gambling. In 1801, the British government issued statements blaming the French Consul for not supplying sufficient clothing (the British government had paid the French for all English prisoners held in France and French colonies to be clothed). In July 1801 Jeremiah Askew, a tradesman at Yaxley, was convicted of being in possession of [[palliasse]]s and other articles bearing the government mark of the '[[broad arrow]]'. He was sentenced to stand in the [[pillory]] at Norman Cross and two years of [[hard labour]].<ref>{{cite news|title= On Monday|newspaper= London Courier and Evening Gazette|date= 24 July 1801|page= 3}}</ref>

Samuel Johnson and a Mr Serle, who visited the barracks, compiled a report on behalf of the British government, stating that the proportion of food allowance was fully sufficient to maintain both life and health, but added: "provided it is not shamefully lost by gambling". The [[British Admiralty|Lords of the Admiralty]], along with Johnson, instructed that naked prisoners should be clothed at once, without waiting for the French supply or payment for clothing.

The British government provided each naked prisoner with a yellow suit, a grey or yellow cap, a yellow jacket, a red waistcoat, yellow trousers, a neckerchief, two shirts, two pairs of stockings, and one pair of shoes. The bright colours were chosen to aid the recognition of escaped prisoners. In Foulley's model of the prison (at the [[Musée de l'Armée]], Paris; pictured above) more than half the prisoners are represented wearing these clothes.

===Food===
Food was prepared by cooks drawn from the prison ranks. The cooks, one for every 12 prisoners, were paid a small allowance by the British government. The initial daily food ration for each prisoner was 1&nbsp;[[Pound (mass)#In Britain|lb]] of beef, 1&nbsp;lb of bread, 1&nbsp;lb of potatoes, and 1&nbsp;lb of cabbage or [[pea]]se. As the majority of prisoners were [[Roman Catholic]], herrings or cod was substituted for beef on Fridays. Each prisoner was also allowed 2&nbsp;[[Ounce|oz]] of soap per week. In November 1797, the British and French governments agreed that each should feed their own citizens in their enemy's prisons. The French provided a daily ration of one pint of beer, 8&nbsp;oz of beef or fish, 26&nbsp;oz of bread, 2&nbsp;oz of cheese and 1&nbsp;lb of potato or fresh vegetables. They were also allowed 1&nbsp;lb of soap and 1&nbsp;lb of tobacco per month. Patients in the prison hospital were given a daily ration of one pint of tea morning and evening, 16&nbsp;oz of bread, 16&nbsp;oz of beef, mutton or fish, one pint of broth, 16&nbsp;oz of green vegetables or potato, and two pints of beer.

The British government went to great lengths to provide food of a quality at least equal to that available to locals. The senior officer from each quadrangle was permitted to inspect the food as it was delivered to the prison to ensure it was of sufficient quality.<ref name="Walker"/>

Despite the generous supply and quality of food, some prisoners died of starvation after gambling away their rations.<ref name="Walker"/>

===Education===
Most prisoners were illiterate and were offered the opportunity to learn to read and write in their native language and English. Prisoners who could read were given access to books. News on the progress of the war, including successes and defeats on both sides, was reported to prisoners.

In April 1799, French prisoners at Liverpool were reported to have performed plays by [[Voltaire]] in a neat prison theatre they had constructed.<ref>{{cite news|title= The French prisoners|newspaper= Cumberland Pacquet, and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser |date= 9 April 1799|page= 3}}</ref> In July 1799, Dutch prisoners at Norman Cross sought permission to use one building as a theatre. The [[List of Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty|Sea Lords]] refused. However, Foulley's model, depicting the prison as it was in about 1809, shows a theatre in the south-west quadrangle.

===Religion===
There was no prison chapel but a Catholic priest resided in the garrison barracks. From 1808, the former [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Moulins|Bishop of Moulins]] [[Étienne-Jean-Baptiste-Louis des Gallois de La Tour]], who lived in exile at [[Stilton]], was permitted by the Admiralty to minister and provide charity to the prisoners at his own expense.<ref name="Walker"/> He later became [[Archbishop of Bourges]].

===Health===
Sick prisoners were initially treated in the prison hospital by two French Navy surgeons and 24 orderlies.<ref name="Walker"/>

As the number of prisoners increased, disease spread throughout the camp and 1,020 prisoners died in a [[typhus]] outbreak in 1800–1801.<ref name="Walker"/> A special 'typhus cemetery' was dug near the camp.<ref name="Wessex">[https://www.scribd.com/doc/56147568/Time-Team-Norman-Cross "Norman Cross Camp Cambridgeshire. Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results".] ''Wessex Archaeology'', September 2010.</ref>

Leonard Gillespie, Surgeon to the Fleet, wrote in 1804 that [[pneumonia]] was common with some cases becoming fatal [[carditis]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Gillespie|first=Leonard|title=Short Statement of the Result of the Practice in the Hospital for Prisoners of War at Norman Cross|journal=The London Medical and Physical Journal|volume=12|pages=345–347|year=1804|issue=68 |pmid=30491617 |pmc=5674343 }}</ref> There were also many cases of [[tuberculosis|consumption]]. A brick house for a resident British surgeon was built adjacent to the prison hospital in 1805.<ref name="Wessex"/>

A peculiar outbreak of [[nyctalopia]] or night-blindness affected many of the prisoners in 1806. They became severely [[Dyspepsia|dyspeptic]] and completely blind from sunset until dawn, to the extent that their fitter companions had to lead them around the camp. Various treatments were tried and failed; finally they were cured with [[Helleborus niger|black hellebore]], given as snuff, which relieved the dyspepsia and restored their night vision within a few days.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=KfcTAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA379 Waller, John Augustine, ''British Domestic Herbal'', 1822.] Quoted in Barton, Benjamin Herbert & [[Thomas Castle|Castle, Thomas]], ''The British Flora Medica; or, History of the Medicinal Plants of Great Britain'', London, 1837; Google Books.</ref>

A total of 1,770 prisoner deaths were recorded, the majority from disease, during the time the prison was in operation, although the records are incomplete.<ref name="Walker"/><ref>{{cite web|title= Norman Cross Camp, Cambridgeshire|url=https://www.scribd.com/document_downloads/direct/56147568?extension=pdf&ft=1612713839&lt=1612717449&show_pdf=true&user_id=540077777&uahk=UkW4_-cauut4WF427SJhrDlVOMg|website= www.scribd.com|access-date= 6 February 2012}}</ref>

==Craft and prison economy==
[[File:Norman Cross block house model.jpg|thumb|Model of the Block House made by a French prisoner in 1801; photographed in 1913]]
At the outbreak of the war, the Transport Board wrote that "the prisoners in all the depots in the country are at full liberty to exercise their industry within the prisons, in manufacturing and selling any articles they may think proper excepting those which would affect the Revenue in opposition to the Laws, obscene toys and drawings, or articles made either from their clothing or the prison stores".

[[File:cmglee_Peterborough_Museum_doll_house.jpg|thumb|left|Doll's house at Peterborough Museum]]
Many prisoners at Norman Cross made artefacts such as toys, model ships and [[dominoes]] sets from carved wood or animal bone, and straw [[marquetry]]. Examples of the prisoners' craftwork were sold to visitors and passersby. Some highly skilled prisoners were commissioned by wealthy individuals, some of the prisoners becoming very rich in the process.<ref name="TrenchArt">{{Cite book|title=Trench art: an illustrated history|author=Kimball, Jane A. |publisher=Silverpenny Press|year=2004}}</ref> Archdeacon William Strong, a regular visitor to the prison, notes in his diary of 23 October 1801 that he provided a piece of [[mahogany]] and paid a prisoner £1 15s 6d to build a model of the Block House and £2 2s for a straw picture of [[Peterborough Cathedral]].<ref name="Walker">{{cite book|author=Walker, Thomas James 
|title=The depot for prisoners of war at Norman Cross, Huntingdonshire, 1796 to 1816|url=https://archive.org/details/b31347447
|publisher=Constable & Company|year=1913}}</ref>

Prisoners were permitted to sell artefacts twice a week at the local market, or daily at the prison gate. Prices were regulated so the prisoners did not undersell local industries. In return, prisoners were permitted to buy additional food, tobacco, wine, clothes or materials for further work. In 1813 ten inmates on behalf of the prisoners were allowed to attend the sale of articles, a long tent was erected in the barrack-yard, where these were exhibited to the visitors, who had purchased articles through the summer, to the amount of £50 to £60 a week.<ref>{{cite news|title= Notwithstanding |newspaper= Public Ledger and Daily Advertiser|date= 15 October 1813|page= 3}}</ref>

At the end of the war, the Transport Board noted that some prisoners had earned as much as 100 [[Guinea (British coin)|guineas]]. An advertisement in 1814 demonstrated that some items were made collectively and others by a solo craftsman.
{{blockquote|The Exhibition of the Thuilleries, the Luxembourg, and the Palace of Charles IV which are now open, No. 42, Old Bond-street, are most uncommon proofs of human ingenuity; whether we take into consideration the many figures moving in all directions, and exercising their different trades on the material with which they are constructed, namely, the bone of beef, they are equally the objects of our admiration. The Thuilleries and the Luxembourg took two years and four months in arranging the architecture only; and the Palace of Charles IV was seven years in completing, being the labour of an individual. These celebrated productions were the work of the French prisoners, during their confinement at Norman Cross.<ref>{{cite news|title= Exhibition |newspaper= Morning Post|date= 1 June 1814|page= 2}}</ref>}}
Thousands of Norman Cross artefacts survive today in local museums, including 800 in [[Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery|Peterborough Museum]], and private collections.<ref>{{cite web|title= Norman Cross Collection|url=http://www.storiesofpeterborough.com/peterboroughmuseum/normancross/|website= www.storiesofpeterborough.com|access-date= 8 February 2021}}</ref> A collection of model ships made at Norman Cross is on display at [[Arlington Court]] in Devon.

During December 1804, prisoners Nicholas Deschamps and Jean Roubillard were discovered [[Counterfeit money|forging]] £1 bank notes. Engraved plates of a very high standard and printing implements were found. The former was convicted of forgery and the latter of [[uttering]] at the Huntingdon [[Assizes]] in 1805. Francois Raize gave evidence for the crown.<ref>{{cite news|title= At Huntingdon Assizes|newspaper= Stamford Mercury|date= 2 August 1805 |page= 3}}</ref> Forging banknotes was a [[capital crime|capital offence]] at the time. They were sentenced to death but this was commuted. They remained in Huntingdon Gaol until they received a free pardon from the [[George IV of the United Kingdom|Prince Regent]] and were moved to Norman Cross and repatriated with the prisoners of war to France in 1814.<ref>{{cite news|title= The two French prisoners|newspaper= Caledonian Mercury|date= 2 June 1814|page= 3}}</ref>

Prisoners at the Norman Cross site were not permitted to manufacture [[straw hat]]s or bonnets (presumably so as not to impinge upon the local industry).<ref name="Walker"/> The authorities appear to have enforced this stipulation: at Huntingdon Assizes in May 1811 John Lun, snr (twelve months) and three sons (six months) were sentenced to prison for a conspiracy, in endeavouring to persuade the NCOs and privates of the garrison to permit a quantity of straw to be conveyed into the site for the purpose of making straw hats.<ref>{{cite news|title= LAW REPORTS|newspaper= National Register (London)|date= 26 May 1811|page= 14}}</ref> In September 1812 the North York Militia held a regimental court-martial lasting three days that reduced four sergeants to the ranks and reprimanded two others for conniving at the guards smuggling raw straw into the prison and the [[Straw plaiting|plaited]] product out.<ref name = Turton104>Turton, pp. 104–5.</ref>

==Insubordination and escapes==
[[File:Norman Cross building in Peterborough.jpg|thumb|left|Building removed from Norman Cross in April 1816 and converted to cottages in [[Peterborough]]; photographed in 1913]]
Insubordination was rife among prisoners. A force of [[Shropshire]] [[Militia (United Kingdom)|Militia]], a battalion of army reserve, and a volunteer force from Peterborough were required to restrain the prisoners from breaking out during a particular period of defiance. As a boy, the author [[George Borrow]] lived at the camp from July 1811 to April 1813 with his father Lieutenant Thomas Borrow of the [[Norfolk Militia|West Norfolk Militia]];<ref>[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/43487/43487-h/43487-h.htm#page47 The Depot for Prisoners at Norman Cross Huntingdonshire, 1796 to 1816, page 144]</ref> he described the place in ''[[Lavengro]]''.

Six prisoners escaped in April 1801. Three of them were caught at [[Boston, England|Boston]], Lincolnshire, and the remaining three were caught in a fishing boat off the [[Norfolk]] coast. In the hat of one was found a complete map of the Lincolnshire coast.<ref>{{cite news|title= Last Week|newspaper= Morning Post|date= 27 April 1801|page= 3}}</ref> Each year the number of attempts to escape increased, as did the numbers in each escape. Three groups of 16 men each escaped in late 1801. Incomplete tunnels were discovered in 1802.

In October 1804 the press reported the prisoners created a disturbance with the intention of breaking the perimeter fencing. Assistance was sent for from Peterborough. A troop of [[Yeomanry]] galloped to support, later followed by two more troops and an infantry unit. The prisoners had cut down a part of the wood enclosure during the night, nine of them effected their escape through the aperture. At daybreak, it was discovered in another part of the prison that prisoners had undermined a distance of 34 feet towards the great South road under the [[moat|fosse]] which surrounded the prison, although the fosse was four feet deep, and no tools were discovered with them. Five escapees were taken.<ref>{{cite news|title= Norman Cross|newspaper= Hull Packet|date= 16 October 1804|page= 4}}</ref>

During the night, several prisoners escaped in February 1807.<ref>{{cite news|title= During the night|newspaper= Hereford Journal|date= 18 February 1807|page= 2}}</ref>
Three escapees were retaken near [[Ryde]] heading for Southampton in April 1807.<ref>{{cite news|title= Southampton|newspaper= Hampshire Chronicle|date= 27 April 1807|page= 4}}</ref>
The agent at the depot (camp commander), Captain Pressland RN, was inviting tenders for the building of a wall, in August 1807.<ref>{{cite news|title= Depot for Prisoners of War Norman Cross|newspaper= Stamford Mercury|date= 14 August 1807|page= 2}}</ref> This may have become known to the prisoners as a major escape attempt was made.
{{blockquote| About a fortnight ago a formidable attempt was made by the prisoners of war at Norman Cross to effect their escape from confinement. Between ten and eleven o'clock at night a force of 500 of them rushed all at once violently against the interior paling of the prison, and in an instant levelled one angle of it with the ground. They were proceeding to make a like experiment upon the next inclosure (constructed, like the former, of wood), when they were charged by the military of the barracks, and more than 40 were severely wounded with the bayonet before they were driven back to their confines. None escaped: but in consequence of this attempt a vast inclosure of brick-work is now building about the prison; is to be 14 feet high, and nearly a mile in circumference.<ref>{{cite news| title= About a fortnight ago|newspaper= Stamford Mercury |date= 25 September 1807|page= 3}}</ref>}}
After the second of these two major escape attempts in 1804 and 1807, the wooden stockade fence was soon replaced with a brick wall.<ref name="Wessex"/>

One prisoner, Charles Francois Marie Bourchier, stabbed a civilian, Alexander Halliday, while attempting to escape on 9 September 1808. He was convicted at the Huntingdon Assizes and sentenced to death by hanging.<ref>{{cite news|title= Huntingdon Assizes|newspaper= Hampshire Chronicle|date= 22 August 1808|page= 3}}</ref> He was taken from Huntingdon Gaol on Friday 16th and executed at Norman Cross in front of the prisoners and the whole garrison.<ref>{{cite news|title= On Friday Se'nnight|newspaper= Cumberland Pacquet, and Ware's Whitehaven Advertiser|date= 27 September 1808|page= 3}}</ref> This was the only civil execution at Norman Cross.<ref name="Walker"/> After the stabbing, the guards, having seen two or three other knives, searched the entire prison and 700 daggers were found.<ref name="Walker"/><ref>{{cite news|title= Some Discoveries|newspaper= Hampshire Chronicle|date= 5 December 1808|page= 7}}</ref>

On 24 September 1808, an English sloop of 44 tons called the ''Margaret Anne'' (William Tempel, master, of Barton) arrived at [[Calais]], laden with 18 tons of coals. She was seized in the night of the 20th, in the [[Humber]], by three French prisoners who had escaped from Norman Cross.<ref>{{cite news|title= Paris|newspaper=Saint James's Chronicle - Thursday 13 October 1808|page= }}</ref>
In November 1809, two French Navy officers escaped by secreting themselves in the soil carts of the prison, in which they were drawn out of the confines of the depot.<ref>{{cite news|title= On Friday se'nnight|newspaper= Hull Packet|date= 5 December 1809|page= 3}}</ref>

In December 1809 an inquest took place on Jean Barthelemy Toohe, a French prisoner of war who, as he was endeavouring to make his escape over the pailing of the prison, was fired at by the sentinel on duty; the ball entered his back, and he died shortly afterwards.<ref>{{cite news|title= An inquest|newspaper= Stamford Mercury|date= 22 December 1809|page= 3}}</ref>

Duelling continued amongst prisoners. On 15 May 1811 at Norman Cross, two fought with scissors attached to sticks. One duellist wounded the survivor twice, before the latter made the thrust that proved fatal. It was reported that "On Saturday the 19th an inquisition was taken at Norman Cross Barracks, on view of the body of Julien Cheral, a French prisoner of war, who met his death by a fellow prisoner of the name of Jean Francois Pons stabbing. Verdict — Self Defence."<ref>{{cite news|title= Duels amongst the French Prisoners|newspaper= Belfast Commercial Chronicle|date= 8 June 1811|page=4}}</ref>

In January 1812, a French prisoner was shot whilst escaping after he had overpowered a guard and stolen a bayonet. The guard was committed to Huntingdon Gaol for the next assizes on a charge of manslaughter.<ref>{{cite news|title= The French prisoner|newspaper= Stamford Mercury|date= 24 January 1812|page= 3}}</ref>

In August 1812 [[Prosper Louis, 7th Duke of Arenberg]], was sent to Norman Cross after refusing to conform to the new reporting rules of his parole at [[Bridgnorth]], where he was staying with his wife, Stéphanie Tascher de La Pagerie (a niece of [[Empress Joséphine]]). After a period, he agreed to follow the reporting requirement and was paroled again.<ref>{{cite journal|last= Monger|first= Garry|title= Fort in the Fens|journal= The Fens|pages= 20–21|year=2021}}</ref>

During August 1813, escaped prisoners from Norman Cross were discovered as far away as [[Hampshire]].

== Military units ==

In July 1810 the [[Northumberland Militia]] were inspected at the barracks by [[Hugh Percy, 2nd Duke of Northumberland]]. After he had reviewed them, the duke presented the commanding officer with £150 for the regiment to regale themselves with.<ref>{{cite news|title= The Duke|newspaper= Morning Post|date= 23 July 1810|page= 3}}</ref>
On 22 April 1812 the [[Queen's Edinburgh Light Infantry Militia|Edinburgh Militia]] relieved the 2nd West York at Yaxley barracks, and the latter regiment marched to [[Colchester]].<ref>{{cite news|title= On Wednesday|newspaper= Leeds Intelligencer|date= 27 April 1812|page= 3}}</ref> However, the Edinburgh's Militia were soon sent north to deal with [[Luddite]] machine-breaking<ref name = Dudgeon>Maj R. C. Dudgeon, ''History of the Edinburgh, or Queen's Regiment Light Infantry Militia (now) Third Battalion The Royal Scots'', Edinburgh: Blackwood, 1882/Bibliolife, nd, {{ISBN|978-1-10368643-8}}, p. 61–2.</ref> and with a very large group of French prisoners arriving from the [[Peninsular War|Peninsula]] the guards had to be reinforced quickly. The [[Bedfordshire Militia]] were sent from [[Littlehampton]] in wagons changed at each town, the officers in [[post chaise]]s, the journey of {{convert|166|mi|km}} taking just six days (29 April to 4 May).<ref name = Burgoyne>Lt-Col Sir John M. Burgoyne, Bart, ''Regimental Records of the Bedfordshire Militia 1759–1884'', London: W.H. Allen, 1884, pp. 63–4.</ref>

Men from the following units were stationed at the prison:
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
!style=|Period
!style=|Unit
!style=|Ref.
|-
|Early 1797–
|[[Cambridgeshire Militia]]
|<ref>{{cite journal| title = The County Fencibles and Militia Augmentation of 1794| journal = Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research| date =  March 1956| volume = 34 |last = Western| first = JR| pages = 3–11}}</ref>
|-
|March 1797–{{circa}}April 1799
|Royal South Lincolnshire Militia
|<ref name="Chamberlain1">{{cite book| title= The Prison of Norman Cross: The Lost Town of Huntingdonshire| last=Chamberlain| first=Paul| publisher= The History Press| year= 2018|location=Stroud, Gloucestershire| isbn=978-0-7509-9046-2|pages=50–53}}</ref>
|-
|October–December 1797
|[[North York Militia]]
|<ref name = Turton/><ref name="Chamberlain1"/>
|-
|November 1797–March 1798
|[[East Norfolk Militia]]
|<ref name="Chamberlain1"/><ref>Colonel Sir Charles Harvey, ''The History of the 4th Battalion Norfolk Regiment (late East Norfolk Militia)'', London: Jarrold, 1899, pp. 79–90.</ref>
|-
|July–December 1801
|[[Hertfordshire Militia]]
|<ref name = Busby>[https://www.jstor.org/stable/44222686 Maj J.H. Busby, 'Local Military Forces in Hertfordshire 1793–1814', ''Journal of the Society for Army Historical Research'', Vol 31, No 125 (Spring 1953), pp. 15–24.]</ref>
|-
|rowspan=2|1804
|4th Reserve Battalion
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Chamberlain1"/><ref>{{cite news| title = French Prisoners| newspaper = Hull Packet| date= 16 October 1804| page = 4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = The following Military movements | newspaper = Stamford Mercury |date = 18 November 1808 |page = 3}}</ref>
|-
|7th Reserve Battalion
|-
|Late 1804
|Shropshire Militia
|-
|1808
|[[Northampton Militia]]. In November Wiltshire Militia relieved by 3d West York
|-
|January–April 1812
|West Essex Militia
|-
|January–May 1812
|2nd Yorkshire West Riding Militia
|-
|21 April–6 May 1812
|[[Edinburgh Militia]]
|<ref name = Dudgeon/> 
|-
|4 May–28 October 1812
|[[Bedfordshire Militia]]
|<ref name = Burgoyne/><ref name="Chamberlain1"/>
|-
|May–November 1812
|North York Militia
|<ref name = Turton104/><ref name="Chamberlain1"/>
|-
|November 1812–April 1813
|Meath Militia
|rowspan=5|<ref name="Chamberlain1"/>
|-
|November 1812–May 1813
|Sligo Militia
|-
|December 1812–March 1813
|South Lincolnshire Militia
|-
|April–October 1813
|[[West Kent Militia]]
|-
|July–November 1813
|Aberdeenshire Militia
|-
|September 1813–July 1814
|Hertfordshire Militia
|<ref name="Chamberlain1"/><ref name = Busby/>
|-
|November 1813–June 1814
|1st Yorkshire West Riding Militia
|<ref name="Chamberlain1"/>
|}

==Arrival and repatriation==

Many of the prisoners arrived via [[Portsmouth]] or [[Plymouth]] and were marched hundreds of miles to Norman Cross.<ref>{{cite news|title= Naval Intelligence|newspaper=British Press|date= 27 November 1805|page= 4}}</ref>

In April 1797 six transports having on board near 1,000 French prisoners disembarked at [[King's Lynn]] from Falmouth. The prisoners, under an escort of the [[Lincoln, England|Lincoln]] Militia marched from there to Norman Cross. Most prisoners arrived on foot from Portsmouth, Plymouth, [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]], [[Great Yarmouth]], and other ports.<ref>{{cite news|title= Lynn |newspaper= Kentish Gazette|date= 11 April 1797|page= 4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Orders|newspaper= Hampshire Chronicle |date= 3 October 1803|page= 3}}</ref>
In October 1797, 300 prisoners embarked from Peterborough quay to be exchanged.<ref>{{cite news| title= Gleanings|newspaper= Stamford Mercury - Friday 25 November 1859|page= 6}}</ref> The sea trip to the continent was by [[cartel ship]]. When the first peace was proclaimed, prisoners were taken to Wisbech in lighters to join others in Wisbech Gaol to depart from the [[Port of Wisbech]] for France.<ref>{{cite book|title= History of Wisbech and Neighborhood, during the last fifty years 1848-1898|author= FJ Gardiner|year= 1898|publisher= Gardiner & Co}}</ref>

Not all prisoners waited for repatriation after the end of the war. A number of the Dutch prisoners expressed their readiness to enlist into the service of Britain. In January 1807 upwards of 60 of them, whose services had been accepted, were marched under an escort of the [[Pembrokeshire]] Militia, to Portsmouth, to be distributed on board ships of war.<ref>{{cite news|title= A number of the Dutch prisoners|newspaper= Northampton Mercury|date= 31 January 1807|page=3 }}</ref>

Peace was finally proclaimed with France in 1814, following [[Napoleon]]'s defeat and consequent abdication. The prisoners, the garrison guards and local people joined together in celebrations. The first division of 500 prisoners left on 5 April.<ref>{{cite news|title= The French Prisoners|newspaper= Windsor and Eton Express|date= 10 April 1814|page= 4}}</ref> The Star reported "We are sorry to add that on their way to the sea coast for embarkation, a few indulged in drinking to such excess, that two of them perished in a fit of intoxication, and nearly thirty were left on the road unable to proceed to their native land. They carry home with them about six thousand pounds in English money, being the profits on the sale of the toys, &c. which they manufactured at the depot".<ref>{{cite news|title= The Joy|newspaper= Star (London)|date= 19 April 1814 |page= 4}}</ref>

The remaining prisoners left the garrison by June 1814. A few decided to remain in England and settled near [[Yaxley, Cambridgeshire|Yaxley]] and [[Stilton]].

==Demolition and survivals==
[[File:Norman House, Norman Cross - geograph.org.uk - 82059.jpg|thumb|Norman House]]
In April 1815, "1,000 Yards of capital Board Fencing, now standing round the burial ground appropriated to the late French prisoners, near Norman Cross Inn" were advertised for sale.<ref>{{cite news|title= Sold by auction|newspaper= Stamford Mercury|date= 7 April 1815|page= 1}}</ref>
The wooden buildings were dismantled in June 1816 and the parts sold at auction.<ref>{{cite news|title= Norman Cross|newspaper= Star (London)|date=13 September 1816|page= 1}}</ref> Some of the buildings were relocated to nearby towns although much of the timber structures were sold as firewood.

The site is considered of national importance and has been classified as a [[scheduled monument]].<ref>{{NHLE |num=1006782 |desc=Site of Napoleonic Prisoners of War Camp, Norman Cross|accessdate=2 January 2014}}</ref> The commander of the depot was the agent and his house survives, as the Old Governor's House. The restored stables are now a privately owned [[art gallery]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://sites.google.com/site/normancrossgallery/ | title=Norman Cross Gallery, Norman House, Norman Cross, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE7 3TB}}</ref> Norman House, the barrack master's house, also survives. Both the Old Governor's House<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1238145|desc=The Old Governor's House and attached house|grade=II}}</ref> and Norman House<ref>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1274365|desc=Norman House|grade=II}}</ref> are [[Grade II]] listed buildings.

== Memorial ==
[[File:Norman Cross Napoleonic Monument - geograph.org.uk - 1388808.jpg|left|thumb|Norman Cross Monument]]
The memorial to the 1,770 prisoners who died at Norman Cross was erected in 1914 by the Entente Cordiale Society beside the Great North Road.<ref name="NHLE 1222028">{{NHLE |num=1222028 |desc=Monument 1/4 mile north of Norman Cross|accessdate=9 February 2021}}</ref> The bronze [[French Imperial Eagle|Imperial Eagle]] was stolen in 1990, but replaced with a new one in 2005 following a fundraising appeal.<ref>{{Citation
| url = https://sites.google.com/site/friendsofnormancross/a-detailed-history/8-the-eagle-stolen-and-the-appeal
| title = Friends of Norman Cross. The Eagle Stolen, 1990, and The Appeal, 1991
| access-date = 2 January 2014
}}</ref>

When a section of the [[A1 road (Great Britain)|A1]] was upgraded to motorway standard in 1998<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/4442.aspx|title=A1(M) Alconbury to Peterborough|publisher=Highways Agency|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827095144/http://www.highways.gov.uk/roads/projects/4442.aspx|archive-date=27 August 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref> the memorial required relocating.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lhi.org.uk/projects_directory/projects_by_region/east_of_england/city_of_peterborough/norman_cross_eagle_appeal/index.html|title=Norman Cross Eagle Appeal|publisher=Local Heritage Initiative|access-date=22 January 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080209001250/http://www.lhi.org.uk/projects_directory/projects_by_region/east_of_england/city_of_peterborough/norman_cross_eagle_appeal/index.html|archive-date=9 February 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 2 April 2005, the [[Valerian Wellesley, 8th Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]], a patron of the appeal, unveiled the restored memorial on a new site beside the [[A15 road (England)|A15]]. A replacement bronze eagle, sculpted by [[John Doubleday (sculptor)|John Doubleday]], was placed on the re-sited column.<ref name="NHLE 1222028"/>

== Study ==
An [[archaeological dig]] was carried out on part of the site by [[Channel 4]] series ''[[Time Team]]'' in 2009.  Part of the wall, an accommodation block, ablution hut and burial ground were uncovered. The episode, "Death and Dominoes: The First POW Camp", of [[Time Team series 17|series 17 of ''Time Team'']] was broadcast in October 2010. 
{{Clear}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|title= The Prison of Norman Cross: The Lost Town of Huntingdonshire|last=Chamberlain|first=Paul|publisher= The History Press|year= 2018|location=Stroud, Gloucestershire|isbn=978-0-7509-9046-2}}
* {{cite web |url= https://cambridgemilitaryhistory.com/2024/12/27/norman-cross-prisoner-art-from-the-napoleonic-wars/ |title= Norman Cross: Prisoner Art From the Napoleonic Wars|date=27 December 2024 |publisher=Cambridge Military History|access-date=27 December 2024}}
* [https://issuu.com/thefensmagazine/docs/thefenswisbechmarch2021lowres Fort in the Fens]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.friendsofnormancross.org.uk Friends of Norman Cross]
* [https://issuu.com/thefensmagazine/docs/thefenswisbechmarch2021lowres The Fens] Norman Cross pages 20–21
* [http://www.wessexarch.co.uk/blogs/time-team/2011/04/18/time-team-series-17-death-and-dominoes-first-pow-camp-norman-cross-cambri Time Team Series 17: Death and Dominoes – The First POW Camp (Norman Cross, Cambridgeshire)], Wessex Archaeology.
* [https://www.flickr.com/photos/wessexarchaeology/sets/72157626378535915/ Norman Cross, Cambridgeshire Flickr collection]
* [http://www.ebooksread.com/authors-eng/thomas-james-walker/the-depot-for-prisoners-of-war-at-norman-cross-huntingdonshire-1796-to-1816-ala/page-15-the-depot-for-prisoners-of-war-at-norman-cross-huntingdonshire-1796-to-1816-ala.shtml Walker, Thomas James, ''The Depot for Prisoners of War at Norman Cross, Huntingdonshire, 1796 to 1816'', London, Constable, 1913] E-book version (very poorly proof-read)
* [https://www.scribd.com/document/56147568/Time-Team-Norman-Cross#download Time Team - Norman Cross]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3DZBB9-Axs "Once Our Foe - The shooting of Jean DeNarde"] - a documentary about the [[Norfolk Militia#Prisoner shooting|shooting of a prisoner]] in transit to Norman Cross

{{Coord|52.5038|N|0.2908|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}

{{Prisons in the East of England}}

[[Category:Prisons in Cambridgeshire]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials in Cambridgeshire]]
[[Category:Prisoner-of-war camps in England]]
[[Category:Scheduled monuments in Cambridgeshire]]
[[Category:Defunct prisons in England]]
[[Category:Napoleonic Wars]]
[[Category:Yaxley, Cambridgeshire]]