Napoleonic Newsdesk

Duke of Wellington to Unveil Monument
at Norman Cross, Peterborough

by Paul Chamberlain

Saturday 2nd April 2005

At 1.00 pm on Saturday 2nd April 2005 His Grace the Duke of Wellington will unveil a monument to the memory of more than 1,700 mostly French prisoners of war who died at the Norman Cross prisoner of war camp near Peterborough between 1797 and 1814. The monument - a cast eagle on top of a stone column close to the junction of the A1(M) and the A15 - replaces one which was erected in 1914 but destroyed in 1990 when the column was pulled down by thieves who stole the original eagle.

The Duke will be accompanied at the unveiling by local and national dignitaries. They will be escorted by history re-enactors in the costume of Napoleonic period soldiers. Le Souvenir Français will lead the French delegation attending the prestigious and colourful ceremony. The unveiling will be just part of a day of public education and entertainment at Norman Cross on 2nd April.

A Napoleonic encampment and community at the Norman Cross Gallery (about 400 yards from the memorial) will open to the public at 11.00 am. Visitors will see British and French soldiers drilling, Regency-period gentlemen strutting with their ladies and showing off their finery, and early-19th century food being prepared. A recruiting party from the King’s German Legion will look for recruits. The event not only restores an important part of our heritage, it also commemorates the many seamen captured at Trafalgar and held at the prison depot.

The gallery is in the grounds of the house of the prison commander and the remains of the prison boundary wall are still visible. Guided talks will take place throughout the day to tell the story of the prison and the men held there.

Funding for the restoration of the memorial has come from the Local Heritage Initiative and a variety of local and international donors.

For further details contact Paul Chamberlain: Email: illustrated.entertainment@ntlworld.com Telephone: 01582 616674

Napoleonic News Desk

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