大象传媒

Of the thousands of Belgian refugees fleeing their homes following Germany鈥檚 invasion of Belgium in August 1914, dozens were transported to Staffordshire and Cheshire and housed with local families and, in the main, integrated with local communities

One building in Nantwich; Porch House, reportedly became known as 鈥淏elgium House鈥� because of the number of refugees housed there. Belgian children were taught in local schools, men were given jobs in the area and local communities donated money to support them.

In the 大象传媒 Radio Stoke archives in the 1970s, men and women spoke of their reaction to seeing people from another country for the first time 鈥� about the kites they made and sold and of experiences of Belgians eating horsemeat 鈥� unusual to see in Staffordshire and Cheshire at the time.

Location: Porch House, Welsh Row, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 5ED
Image: Belgian refugees in Stone, Staffordshire during WW1. Photograph courtesy of Newcastle Borough Museum and Art Gallery.