NHER 38459 (Monument record) - North Lynn Farm German Prisoner of War Camp

February 2004. Norfolk NMP
The site of a World War Two German Prisoner of War Camp at North Lynn Farm is visible at TF 6136 2147 on RAF photographs from 1946 (S1). This site is listed as Camp No. 280 in English Heritage's Prisoner of War Camps study (Thomas, 2003) (S2). The camp was constructed between June 1945 and April 1946 (S2). The site is now occupied by a chemical works and none of the original buildings appear to exist.
The main body of the site consists of five closely spaced parallel rows of huts centred on TF 6140 2150. To the north west of these are three tall structures. The function of these is not clear from the aerial photographs, but they may be observation towers or masts of some sort. To the north of the prisoners' accommodation is an ornamental garden consisting of a square parterre, centred on TF 6142 2154. According to Roger Thomas' report ornamental knot gardens and formal flower borders are a common feature of PoW camps. To the east of the site, centred on TF 6150 2151, are more military huts and buildings. These are less closely spaced than the rows and are probably for military personnel rather than prisoners. Centred on TF 6145 2150 are three circular structures, 3.5m in diameter, which have the appearance of storage tanks, possibly for water. To the west of the site there are two straight trenches, recently dug, flanked on either side by small pits. These have the appearance of defensive trenches and weapons pits, although it is possible that they are the lines of earlier ditches or drains recently recut. Centred on TF 6133 2146 is an area of cleared ground, which reveals the former location of more structures. Also visible are the exposed soilmarks of a partial ring ditch and linear feature. The date of these is unknown. Although they may also relate to earlier military structures or perhaps relate to the Medieval to Post Medieval activity on this site (NHER 27889).
S. Massey (NMP), 11 February 2004.