Monument record 7914 - Site of Second World War Prisoner of War Camp, Lordship Lane, Helsby Marsh

<1> Archaeological Research Services Ltd, 2007-9, North West Rapid Coastal Zone National Mapping Programme Assessment Survey (Digital Archive). SCH8040.

A possible 20th Century military camp visible as a series of structures on RAF air photographs dating to 1945, centred at SJ 4795 7701. Recorded as part of the North West Rapid Coastal Zone Project.

<2> L - P Archaeology, 2015, Archaeological Monitoring of Frodsham Wind Farm, R3985 (Client Report). SCH8202.

The site of the military camp/prisoner of war camp falls within the area of the Frodsham Wind Farm development. In 2015 it was investigated in advance of groundworks associated with the site compound for this project located in the field to the south of the camp.

The project consulted 1945 RAF orthoimagery, this shows up to 14 rectangular structures (nissan huts?) in the main part of the camp, other smaller potential structures can also be seen. Prior to the excavation of the groundworks, a walkover survey of part of the camp and the proposed compound area was undertaken. This identified two concrete features protruding from the topsoil. The overlying vegetation and topsoil was then stripped from an area of circa 30m by 18m, centred at SJ 48059 77014, within the site of the compound to maximum depth of 0.2m below ground level. Two concrete platforms were discovered which have been interpreted as bases for structures associated with the camp. The first platform measured approximately 7.8m by 3m and 0.15m thick; it had been heavily fractured through weathering and bioturbation. The other, 13m to the north-west of the first, was smaller measuring 3m by 2m and 0.5m in height; it was partially sunk into the underlying natural silt clay. It was formed out of rough concrete and formed a cuboid hollow, possibly acting as a sump of machine base. Also below the topsoil were areas of burning and demolition material from the abandonment of the camp post 1945, these overlay the natural silt clay.