Italian Prisoner of War Camps in the North East 1939-45

Italian Prisoner of War Camps in the North East

n. 4 Windlestone Hall camp, Rushyford, near Durham, later a sub camp for 93.

n. 18 Featherstone Park camp, Haltwhistle, Northumberland.

n. 36 Walworth Castle camp, near Darlington.

n. 69 Darras Hall camp, Ponteland, with hostels at Catton, Colwell, Gosforth, Longhorsley, Prestwick, Raylees (near Elsdon), Wylam.

n. 93 Harperley camp, Crook, with hostels at Bedburn, Bishop Auckland, Consett, Hamsterley Hall, High Spen, Lanchester, Langton Grange, Mount Oswald, Usworth, Windlestone Hall.

n. 105 Wooler camp. Brewery Road, Wooler, with hostels at Druridge bay, Embleton, Seaton Delaval, Whittingham.

n. 133 Hetton House camp, Chatton, near Wooler.

n. 139 Wolviston Hall camp, Billingham, with an associated Italian Labour Battalion at Coxhoe Hall (camp 139b), and hostels at Bewley, Bishop Middleham, Kirkleatham, and Rift House (West Hartlepool).

n. 291 Kitty Brewster Farm camp, Blyth.

n. 605 Urpeth Lodge camp, Birtley.

n. 605 West Boldon Camp, Down Hill Quarry, Sunderland.

n. 667 Byrness camp, Redesdale, near Otterburn.

n. 699 Gosforth camp (Tyne ‘J’ camp), Newcastle, a subsidiary of camp 69.

According to local informants, Italian Prisoners of War were also present in small numbers at Barnard Castle, Cox Green (Sunderland), Dudley, and the Hermitage in Chester le Street. Local RAF stations also used Italian Prisoners of War to perform menial tasks.

Hugh Shankland Out of Italy The Story of Italians in North East England 2014