Site of WWII Army Camp located between Miller's Pond and Broadoak Hill, Hardwick Hall

Summary

A large military camp was situated in the area to the east of Miller's Pond at Hardwick Hall during WWII. The camp covered an area of approx. 270m x 80m and now consists of terraces of flattened areas. The camp formerly consisted of temporary buildings erected to house paratroops being trained in the park.

Identification Images (1)

Monument Types

Description

(1) Former site of military camp covering about 19 hectares of the western portion of Hardwick Park and consisted of temporary buildings erected during the Second World War to house paratroops being trained in the park. There was a guard house at Blingsby Gate and training apparatus above the Blingsby drive. A gymnasium is mentioned in correspondance relating to the demolition of the camp. After the war the huts were used as a miners hostel. The camp was demolished in 1959 and the site reinstated. Only some parts of the drains, the tarred road to Blingsby Gate and a redundant bridleway sign (which pointed along what was a camp road) remain to indicate its existence (1985).

The camp was set up to train the Parachute Regiment and a small archive of material, that apparently exists at Hardwick, includes a detailed plan of the camp as well as photographs which add detail to certain buildings.

[3] Letter dated 20th September 1940 to Balfour Beatty & Co Ltd
Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Electric Power Acts 1901-1921
North Derbyshire Electricity Special Order 1932

The War Department is now erecting a hutted camp in close proximity to Hardwick Hall (there is a 25 inch plan, not in record office). (Reference to G O Scraib Sec, Derbyshire and nottinghamshire Electric Power Co, but same address as B, B & Co)

In reply:
Electricity Supply Infantry Training Camp Hardwick Hall 1942-43
Letter dated 25th September 1940
From Balfour, Beatty & Co Ltd, 66 Queen Street, London, EC4

Supply cost £1,200 with War Office paying £535, of the remainder £625 left for a transformer kiosk recoverable when supply discontinued. Approx 170 yards underground cable, 800 overhead wire, another 75 yards underground cable.

[12] An archaeological watching brief was undertaken by Archaeological Project Services in 2003 in the area of the former military camp in advance of the extension of a quarry. The investigation identified a brick wall foundation and drain in addition to a spread of building rubble. These remains were interpreted to be that of two huts shown on the historical map of the training camp. Although building materials were uncovered no artefacts were retrived from the site (Archaeological Project Services, 2003).

[13] In 2011 a walk-over survey of the camp area showed the potential for existing features. There are several ‘lumps and bumps’ in the area and a couple of features were exposed through the turf. One square, brick-built structure was also located towards the top of the slope at the eastern edge of the camp area. This was fully exposed and recorded - see report (Beresford, 2011: 8-10).

[14] In August 2016 a geophysical survey (by resistivity and magnetometry) was undertaken of the of the camp by two postgraduate Sheffield University archaeology students (MA) as part of a work placement with the National Trust. The survey area covered 1 hectare and was centred at SK 4555 6412, thought to be the south-western section of the former camp. The survey demonstrated that there is good potential for survival of features related to the training camp underground. The resistivity survey in particular identified features which correlate well with the historical OS maps of the camp, and the aerial photograph. The outlines of 3 buildings are visible in the resistivity data, the dimensions of which match the buildings shown in the same location on the map. A number of other linear features are also visible which may relate to the camp infrastructure, possibly the drainage system - see report for further details (Thornhill, 2016).

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