The French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars led to the incarceration of thousands of enemy prisoners in the UK, prompting the Admiralty to establish the first purpose-built prisoner of war camp on the Great North Road in Cambridgeshire. This camp, located near Yaxley, housed up to 7,000 mainly French prisoners between 1797 and 1814.

The Napoleonic Norman Cross prison depot site, which includes the remains of the camp, has been safeguarded by Nene Park Trust with financial support from Historic England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This site served as a model for future military prisons, functioning as a self-contained town with various facilities for prisoners.

Prisoners at Norman Cross were engaged in producing items like toys, model ships, and dominos to sell at a market. The camp was dismantled in 1816, and a memorial was later erected to honor the 1,770 prisoners who died there, primarily from diseases like Typhus.

While public access to the site is restricted, plans are underway to allow visitors to explore the area while preserving its archaeological significance. Historians and officials believe that acquiring this site will help in telling the story of this lost town and its impact on the region.

Baroness Twycross, the heritage minister, emphasized the importance of remembering the stories of those held at the first purpose-built prisoner of war camp, highlighting the need to preserve this historical site for future generations.