71-580: Norman Cross Prison in Huntingdonshire , England, was the world's first purpose-built prisoner-of-war camp 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 , now in Cambridgeshire , lies south of Peterborough , between
142-665: A forest . In 1889, under the Local Government Act 1888 Huntingdonshire became an administrative county , with the newly-formed Huntingdonshire County Council taking over administrative functions from the Quarter Sessions . The area in the north of the county forming part of the municipal borough of Peterborough became instead part of the Soke of Peterborough , an administrative county in Northamptonshire . In 1965, under
213-562: A distance of 34 feet towards the great South road under the fosse which surrounded the prison, although the fosse was four feet deep, and no tools were discovered with them. Five escapees were taken. During the night, several prisoners escaped in February 1807. Three escapees were retaken near Ryde heading for Southampton in April 1807. The agent at the depot (camp commander), Captain Pressland RN,
284-694: A gold and beribboned hunting horn on a green field, was registered by the Flag Institute in June 2009. Huntingdonshire District Council's headquarters are located in Pathfinder House in Huntingdon. The council consists of 52 councillors. Until 2018, district council elections were held in three out of every four years, with a third of the 52 council seats coming up each time. Elections since have been held for all seats every four years. The Conservative party had
355-435: A majority on the council from 1976 until 2022, after which a joint administration took control of the council. Huntingdonshire is the birthplace of bandy , now an IOC accepted sport. According to documents from 1813, Bury Fen Bandy Club was undefeated for 100 years. A club member, Charles Tebbutt , wrote the first official rules in 1882 and helped to spread the sport to other countries. Huntingdonshire County Cricket Club
426-513: 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. Despite the generous supply and quality of food, some prisoners died of starvation after gambling away their rations. 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
497-438: A queen and her court are appointed from the local primary school, Melrose Primary School (previously named Melrose Grammar School). Melrose is now host to the annual Borders Book Festival which also takes place during June. The 2005 festival hosted guests including Michael Palin and Germaine Greer ; Ian Rankin and Rory Bremner appeared in 2006. Melrose hosts the annual Eildon Three Hill Race, attracting many runners, and
568-625: A recommendation of the Local Government Commission for England , Huntingdonshire was merged with the Soke of Peterborough to form Huntingdon and Peterborough . The Lieutenancy county was also merged. At the same time, St Neots was expanded westwards over the river into Eaton Ford and Eaton Socon in Bedfordshire . In 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972 , Huntingdon and Peterborough merged with Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely to form
639-450: A resident British surgeon was built adjacent to the prison hospital in 1805. A peculiar outbreak of nyctalopia or night-blindness affected many of the prisoners in 1806. They became severely 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 black hellebore , given as snuff, which relieved
710-830: 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 d'honneur outside the prison, mainly in Peterborough, although some as far away as Northampton , Plymouth , Melrose , and Abergavenny . 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. Three French officers died of natural causes while on parole and were buried with full military honours. Four French officers and five Dutch officers married English women while on parole. The most senior officer on parole from
781-627: 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. Forging banknotes was a 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 Prince Regent and were moved to Norman Cross and repatriated with
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#1732869179786852-692: A very large group of French prisoners arriving from the 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 chaises , the journey of 166 miles (267 km) taking just six days (29 April to 4 May). Men from the following units were stationed at the prison: Many of the prisoners arrived via Portsmouth or Plymouth and were marched hundreds of miles to Norman Cross. 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
923-476: 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 was prepared by cooks drawn from
994-707: Is a town and civil parish in the Scottish Borders , historically in Roxburghshire . It lies within the Eildon committee area of Scottish Borders Council . The original Melrose was Mailros , meaning "the bare peninsula" in Old Welsh or Brythonic . This referred to a neck of land by the River Tweed several miles east of the present town, where in the 6th century a monastery was founded associated with St Cuthbert. It
1065-530: Is based in Huntingdon . Huntingdonshire's boundaries were established in the Anglo-Saxon era. It was divided into four hundreds . The county did not have an independent sheriff, instead being combined with neighbouring Cambridgeshire. Huntingdonshire became an administrative county when they were established in 1889. In 1965 it was merged with the Soke of Peterborough to form Huntingdon and Peterborough , which
1136-506: Is now building about the prison; is to be 14 feet high, and nearly a mile in circumference. After the second of these two major escape attempts in 1804 and 1807, the wooden stockade fence was soon replaced with a brick wall. 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. He
1207-551: Is served by BBC East and ITV Anglia broadcasting from the Sandy Heath TV transmitter. Radio stations for the area are BBC Radio Cambridgeshire , Heart East , Greatest Hits Radio East , Star Radio and HCR FM , a community based station that broadcast from its studios in Huntingdon . The Hunts Post is the local weekly newspaper. The whole district is divided into civil parishes . The parish councils for Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Ramsey, St Ives and St Neots take
1278-572: Is still a striking structure. Several Scottish nobles are buried there, and a casket has been found which is believed to contain the heart of King Robert the Bruce . The casket has been re-buried in the Abbey. The Abbey ruins are cared for by Historic Scotland (open all year; entrance charge). Nearby is the Roman fort of Trimontium , Abbotsford House the home of Sir Walter Scott , and Dryburgh Abbey where he
1349-526: Is taken to be one of the 20 minor counties of English and Welsh cricket , but it has never played in the Minor Counties Championship . It has its own Cricket Board and played in the English domestic one-day competition from 1999 to 2003.The county played seven List A matches during this period, with the final List A match it played coming against Cheshire . In terms of television, Huntingdonshire
1420-529: The Lincoln Militia marched from there to Norman Cross. Most prisoners arrived on foot from Portsmouth, Plymouth, Hull , Great Yarmouth , and other ports. In October 1797, 300 prisoners embarked from Peterborough quay to be exchanged. 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
1491-643: 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. On 22 April 1812 the Edinburgh Militia relieved the 2nd West York at Yaxley barracks, and the latter regiment marched to Colchester . However, the Edinburgh's Militia were soon sent north to deal with Luddite machine-breaking and with
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#17328691797861562-671: The Port of Wisbech for France. 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. Peace was finally proclaimed with France in 1814, following Napoleon 's defeat and consequent abdication. The prisoners,
1633-709: 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 oz of beef or fish, 26 oz of bread, 2 oz of cheese and 1 lb of potato or fresh vegetables. They were also allowed 1 lb of soap and 1 lb of tobacco per month. Patients in the prison hospital were given a daily ration of one pint of tea morning and evening, 16 oz of bread, 16 oz of beef, mutton or fish, one pint of broth, 16 oz of green vegetables or potato, and two pints of beer. The British government went to great lengths to provide food of
1704-589: The French army. These were encouraged to enlist in the 60th Foot , which was raising a rifle-armed 5th Battalion in imitation of German jägers . 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
1775-448: 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 palliasses 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 . Samuel Johnson and a Mr Serle, who visited
1846-515: 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. 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 plaited product out. Insubordination
1917-533: The Revenue in opposition to the Laws, obscene toys and drawings, or articles made either from their clothing or the prison stores". 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
1988-513: 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 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
2059-426: 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." 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. In August 1812 Prosper Louis, 7th Duke of Arenberg ,
2130-791: The commission for reconsideration in 1995. The commission recommended the creation of a Peterborough unitary authority, but proposed that Huntingdonshire remain part of the shire county of Cambridgeshire, noting that "there was no exceptional county allegiance to Huntingdonshire, as had been perceived in Rutland and Herefordshire." David McKie writing in The Guardian in October 1994 noted that "Writers-in demanded an independent Huntingdon; but MORI's more broadly based poll showed that most Huntingdonians – that is, most of [Prime Minister] John Major 's electors – were content to stay part of Cambridgeshire." After
2201-736: The district council. Original historical documents relating to Huntingdonshire are held by Cambridgeshire Archives and Local Studies at the County Record Office in Huntingdon . The Local Government Boundary Commission for England (1992) considered in the 1990s the case for making a Huntingdonshire unitary authority as part of a general structural review of English local government that led to unitary authorities in two other English counties that had been abolished: Rutland and Herefordshire . The Draft Recommendations envisaged three possible scenarios for structural change in Cambridgeshire:
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2272-556: The dyspepsia and restored their night vision within a few days. 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. 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
2343-411: The east, South Cambridgeshire to the south-east, Central Bedfordshire and Bedford to the south-west, and North Northamptonshire to the west. The district had a population of 180,800 at the 2021 census , and has an area of 354.3 square miles (918 km ). After St Neots (33,410), the largest towns are Huntingdon (25,428), St Ives (16,815), and Yaxley (9,174 in 2011). The district council
2414-479: The failure to revive the unitary authority, a Huntingdonshire Society was set up to promote awareness of Huntingdonshire as a historic county and campaign for its reinstatement as an administrative and ceremonial entity. In 2002 it established an annual "Huntingdonshire Day" on 25 April, the birthday of Oliver Cromwell . After a campaign by the Huntingdonshire Society, the county flag of Huntingdonshire ,
2485-464: The garrison guards and local people joined together in celebrations. The first division of 500 prisoners left on 5 April. 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
2556-507: 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. The design of the prison was based on that of a contemporary artillery fort. A ditch 27 feet (8.2 m) wide and about 5 feet deep (to prevent prisoners tunnelling out)
2627-412: 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
2698-536: 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
2769-515: The monks preferred a site further west called "Fordel". So the monastery now known as Melrose Abbey was founded there in 1136, and the town of Melrose grew up on its present site around it. In the late Middle Ages, its name was represented by a mell (a mason's hammer) and a rose (for the Virgin Mary , to whom all Cistercian abbeys were dedicated). The Abbey fell into ruin after the Reformation but
2840-519: The new non-metropolitan county of Cambridgeshire . A Huntingdon district was created based closely on the former administrative county borders, with the exclusion of the Old Fletton urban district, which became part of the Peterborough district, as did the part of Norman Cross Rural District in Peterborough New Town. The district was renamed Huntingdonshire on 1 October 1984 by a resolution of
2911-499: The outer were always recaptured." The barracks for the garrison were placed outside and a large guard house (known as the Block House ) containing troops and six cannon was placed right at the centre. The interior of the prison was divided into four quadrangles , each with four double-storey wooden accommodation blocks for 500 prisoners and four ablution blocks. One accommodation block was reserved for officers. Half of each quadrangle
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2982-439: The pailing of the prison, was fired at by the sentinel on duty; the ball entered his back, and he died shortly afterwards. 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
3053-540: The preferred option and the third option had a unitary Huntingdonshire, whilst the second option would have seen Huntingdonshire combine with Peterborough and Fenland to form a "Peterborough and Huntingdonshire" unitary authority. The Final Recommendations of the Commission for Cambridgeshire recommended no change in the status quo in Cambridgeshire. The districts of Peterborough and Huntingdonshire were referred back to
3124-479: The prison as it was in about 1809, shows a theatre in the south-west quadrangle. There was no prison chapel but a Catholic priest resided in the garrison barracks. From 1808, the former 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. He later became Archbishop of Bourges . Sick prisoners were initially treated in
3195-421: 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
3266-492: The prison hospital by two French Navy surgeons and 24 orderlies. As the number of prisoners increased, disease spread throughout the camp and 1,020 prisoners died in a typhus outbreak in 1800–1801. A special 'typhus cemetery' was dug near the camp. Leonard Gillespie, Surgeon to the Fleet, wrote in 1804 that pneumonia was common with some cases becoming fatal carditis . There were also many cases of consumption . A brick house for
3337-448: 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 lb of beef, 1 lb of bread, 1 lb of potatoes, and 1 lb of cabbage or pease . As the majority of prisoners were Roman Catholic , herrings or cod was substituted for beef on Fridays. Each prisoner was also allowed 2 oz of soap per week. In November 1797,
3408-535: The prison was General Charles Lefebvre-Desnouettes who resided with his wife in Cheltenham from 1809 until they escaped back to France in 1811. General 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 . Among the prisoners in 1797 were Germans who had been conscripted into
3479-423: 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
3550-455: The prisoners becoming very rich in the process. 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 . Prisoners were permitted to sell artefacts twice a week at the local market, or daily at
3621-515: The prisoners of war to France in 1814. Prisoners at the Norman Cross site were not permitted to manufacture straw hats or bonnets (presumably so as not to impinge upon the local industry). 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
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#17328691797863692-417: The profits on the sale of the toys, &c. which they manufactured at the depot". Huntingdonshire Huntingdonshire ( / ˈ h ʌ n t ɪ ŋ d ən ʃ ər , - ʃ ɪər / ; abbreviated Hunts ) is a local government district in Cambridgeshire , England, which was historically a county in its own right. It borders Peterborough to the north, Fenland to the north-east, East Cambridgeshire to
3763-403: 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. In July 1799, Dutch prisoners at Norman Cross sought permission to use one building as a theatre. The Sea Lords refused. However, Foulley's model, depicting
3834-509: 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. 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
3905-694: The style "town council". Some of the smaller parishes have a parish meeting rather than a parish council. Chapelries are listed in italics. Parishes are listed by hundred . no record of a church having ever existed now in Bedfordshire now in Northamptonshire a chapelry to Broughton in Hurstingstone hundred In order of birth: 52°25′N 0°15′W / 52.417°N 0.250°W / 52.417; -0.250 Melrose, Scotland Melrose ( Scottish Gaelic : Maolros , "bald moor")
3976-525: The summer, to the amount of £50 to £60 a week. At the end of the war, the Transport Board noted that some prisoners had earned as much as 100 guineas . An advertisement in 1814 demonstrated that some items were made collectively and others by a solo craftsman. 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
4047-522: The town. Rugby union has always been the most popular sport in Melrose. Melrose Golf Club is a nine-hole golf course situated on the edge of the town at the foot of the Eildon Hills. Melrose Cricket Club is situated next to Borders General Hospital at Huntlyburn. Every June, the week-long Melrose Festival takes place. This involves appointing a Melrosian who has lived in the town for most of his life; and
4118-515: The villages of Folksworth , Stilton , and Yaxley . The junction of the A1 and 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 . The Royal Navy Transport Board was responsible for the care of prisoners of war . When Sir Ralph Abercromby communicated in 1796 that he
4189-545: The work of the French prisoners, during their confinement at Norman Cross. Thousands of Norman Cross artefacts survive today in local museums, including 800 in Peterborough Museum , and private collections. 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 forging £1 bank notes. Engraved plates of
4260-485: 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 " infamous vices ". 30 wells were sunk to draw drinking water for the prisoners and garrison. The average prison population
4331-471: 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. 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. Most of the men held in the prison were low-ranking soldiers and sailors, including midshipmen and junior officers, with
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#17328691797864402-474: Was buried in 1832. The Corn Exchange , which was designed by David Cousin , was completed in 1863. The war memorial, erected in 1920, was designed by Sir Robert Lorimer . Melrose is the birthplace of Rugby Sevens and also has a rugby union team, Melrose RFC . Every year on the second Saturday in April the famous Melrose Sevens are held at the Greenyards and is the biggest annual sporting event held in
4473-470: Was in turn merged with Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely in 1974 to form Cambridgeshire, of which Huntingdonshire is now a district. The area corresponding to modern Huntingdonshire was first delimited in Anglo-Saxon times. Its boundaries have remained largely unchanged since the 10th century, although it lost its administrative function in 1974. On his accession in 1154 Henry II declared all Huntingdonshire
4544-452: Was inviting tenders for the building of a wall, in August 1807. This may have become known to the prisoners as a major escape attempt was made. 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
4615-420: 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
4686-492: Was recorded by Bede , and also in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle with the name Magilros . This monastery and settlement, later known as "Old Melrose", were long abandoned by the 12th century. Melrose is surrounded by the small villages of Darnick , Gattonside , Newstead , Lilliesleaf and Bowden . King David I of Scotland took the throne in 1124, and sought to create a new Cistercian monastery on that site; however
4757-630: Was rife among prisoners. A force of Shropshire 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 West Norfolk Militia ; he described the place in Lavengro . Six prisoners escaped in April 1801. Three of them were caught at Boston , Lincolnshire, and
4828-473: Was seized in the night of the 20th, in the Humber , by three French prisoners who had escaped from Norman Cross. 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. 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
4899-412: 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. During August 1813, escaped prisoners from Norman Cross were discovered as far away as Hampshire . In July 1810
4970-525: Was taken from Huntingdon Gaol on Friday 16th and executed at Norman Cross in front of the prisoners and the whole garrison. This was the only civil execution at Norman Cross. After the stabbing, the guards, having seen two or three other knives, searched the entire prison and 700 daggers were found. 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
5041-445: 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 only 76 miles (122 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
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