大象传媒

鈥淭he prisoners here are very well treated, and the camp makes an excellent impression in every respect.鈥� This is taken from a report detailing the living conditions of the prisoners of war (PoW鈥檚) who were based in Yate during World War One.

The report made by a Swiss inspector takes note of how the Yate camp could be 鈥溾��taken as a model of what a prisoners of war camp should be.鈥�

The report also states how the PoW鈥檚 contributed to help Yate grow: 鈥淭he men are employed by three firms, one the Macalpline Government Contracting company, in hut and shed construction and street-making.鈥� For this they were paid a penny an hour. Skilled carpenters and locksmiths received one and a half pence.

So how did the work of the PoW鈥檚 affect modern Yate? 大象传媒 One鈥檚 DIY SOS project manager, Mark Millar visits the site of the Yate PoW camp with Local historian David Hardill.

Location: Westerliegh Road, Yate, Bristol BS37 5PQ
Image: The entrance to the PoW camp in 1917