PoW Camp 103 (Moota)

A POW camp was opened at Moota in 1942, holding 1,000 German and Italian prisoners. To make escape more difficult, camps like Moota were often built on moorland. Unlike other camps in the Lake District, which held high-risk prisoners who were considered dangerous, the POWs at Moota were classified as low-risk prisoners, who were even allowed to work on farms outside the camp and earn some money. Italian POWs from Moota deepened the stream at Allonby to help prevent flooding. The prisoners converted a barracks into a chapel, which was decorated with religious images and biblical quotations. Unfortunately, the paintings were destroyed by someone with anti-German sentiments.

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Source

• Text: Martin Damen
• Photos: Martin Damen