Sewer Diversion Works: Norman Cross Prisoner of War Camp, Yaxley

An archaeological recording brief was undertaken within the Scheduled Ancient Monument of the Norman cross Prisoner of war camp (SAM 268). Work was carried out by the Archaeological Field Unit,Cambridgeshire County Council for Anglian Water Services Ltd. following recommendations by English Heritage and Huntingdonshire District Council. The trenching disturbed an area of ridge and furrow external to the main camp. The landscape morphology of this area has been shown by documentary research to represent a series of complex land use changes which occurred during the late medieval and post-medieval periods. The Prisoner of War Camp was constructed over this early sequence of land use alteration, arable to pasture. The land reverted to pasture following the end of the Napoleonic wars. Burials associated with the camp were expected following information supplied by the Sites and Monument Record for Cambridgeshire, however, no traces of these remains were recovered during the course of this work. Documentary research indicates that a number of cemeteries exist within the camp, with an external cemetery close to Venetian Lodge. Until recently the site was overlooked by 'the Monument', a bronze eagle perched on a column: erected in 1916 to commemorate the French prisoners who died at the camp. The Monument is presently held by the Transportation Department, Cambridgeshire County Council having been knocked over in the late 1980s.