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HELP FOR ZEROES

Eerie photos of derelict British World War Two prisoner of war camps in Cheshire that held Nazi soldiers and has ‘help’ scratched on the wall

Complex in village of Weston, Cheshire was once home to 300 German and Italian troops

THESE haunting images show an abandoned Nazi prisoner of war camp that lies forgotten in the English countryside.

The word ‘help’ is carved into a wall of one of the huts in the complex on the outskirts of the small village of Weston in Cheshire.

 Prisoner of War Camp in the English countryside is home to a number of abandoned huts that once housed German and Italian troops
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Prisoner of War Camp in the English countryside is home to a number of abandoned huts that once housed German and Italian troopsCredit: Mercury Press
 Carved into the wall of one of the huts is the word 'help'
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Carved into the wall of one of the huts is the word 'help'Credit: Mercury Press
 A woman with a 1940s-style hairdo features in graffiti on one of the walls
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 A woman with a 1940s-style hairdo features in graffiti on one of the wallsCredit: Mercury Press

Constructed in 1939 it once was home to around 300 Nazis and Italian POWs.

But it now stands as a silent reminder of Britain's war-time past.

The huts where prisoners once ate and slept are slowly being reclaimed by nature.

There’s even graffiti of a woman on a wall with a 1940s-style hair-do.

Landlord Matthew Holmes, 23, uncovered the treasures on his visit to the site at Snape Farm.

He said: "It's hard to put into words how that felt to be there.

"It was quite breath-taking to think that at some point hundreds of Nazis lived there.

"They were held in this prisoner of war camp to prevent them going back to fight.

"Looking at the condition of the camp, it is fairly evident that not many people had been there since it closed [in 1945].

 Constructed in 1939 the camp was once was home to around 300 Nazis and Italian POWs
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Constructed in 1939 the camp was once was home to around 300 Nazis and Italian POWsCredit: Mercury Press
 Writing on a wall dated from 1950 discussed farm livestock
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Writing on a wall dated from 1950 discussed farm livestockCredit: Mercury Press

"It still had the original copper and other metals there and I was surprised they hadn't been stolen because of their worth. Usually, in other abandoned places, these metals are stolen for profit.

"There was no graffiti either, but I discovered an original etching on the wall which was dated 26 April 1950. It read about flocks of sheep so I think the prisoners there would have been working on farmland.

"Part of my decision to visit the site was that it was pretty much exactly how it was.

"I knew many people didn't even realise it was there – even people who lived in Crewe."

 A toilet block in the now abandoned camp in the Cheshire countryside would have once thronged with people
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A toilet block in the now abandoned camp in the Cheshire countryside would have once thronged with peopleCredit: Mercury Press
 Doors stand stacked upon each other in the camp that closed in 1945
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Doors stand stacked upon each other in the camp that closed in 1945Credit: Mercury Press

In the images, the huts still have their wiring, largely intact windows and even some tools which had been left behind.

Along with Snape Farm, there were three other camps for POWs in the area including Crewe Hall and research has uncovered stories of escape attempts and even soldiers falling in love with locals and remaining in the area after the war.

Matthew added: "There must be so much history to this place that we don't know. It was quiet; somewhat peaceful.

 An electricity junction box would have been used to supply power to the prisoners in the camp
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An electricity junction box would have been used to supply power to the prisoners in the campCredit: Mercury Press
 A rooting light fitting hangs from the ceiling in one of the huts
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A rooting light fitting hangs from the ceiling in one of the hutsCredit: Mercury Press

"The whole place was frozen in time.

"When I walked into where the prisoners would have lived – where they were eating, sleeping and washing, it felt surreal. You never know what you are going to walk into.”


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