NORMAN CROSS was the site of the world's first purpose-built
prisoner-of-war camp constructed during the Napoleonic Wars. Opened in
1797, it was more than just a prison: it was a town in itself, with
houses, offices, butchers, bakers, a hospital, a school, a market and a
banking system. It was an important prison and military establishment in
the east of England with a lively community of some 7,000 French
inmates. Alongside a comprehensive examination of the prison itself,
this detailed and informative book, compiled by a leading expert on the
Napoleonic era, explores what life was like for inmates and turnkeys
alike - the clothing, food, health, education, punishment and,
ultimately, the closure of the depot in 1814.