Hear all about the prisoners’ legacy

From 1797 until 1814, there was a community 7,000 strong at Norman Cross; a community of 6,500 prisoners of war and 500 soldiers guarding them. This community boosted the local economy, and many farmers and brewers benefited from the trade generated by this ‘town’. It was a community of many nationalities: French, Dutch, German and Italian. There was a school, a hospital, a punishment cell, a market and a cemetery. There were dramatic escapes, poignant stories and local legends - and next month you can learn about the legacy these men left upon the local landscape. Stories of men such as Jean La Porte, captured at Trafalgar; Abdallah, a French drummer taken by the Duke of Wellington’s army in Spain; and Jean Habart, a fisherman who lies buried in Stilton. Heritage Open Days at Norman Cross Gallery are September 10 and 11 with guided tours at 11am and 2pm. Admission free.