Featherstone Camp was originally built in the early 1940s as a training facility for American troops and was known to GI inmates as 'Death Valley' because of its isolated location. The Americans made way for Italian Prisoners of War who, in turn, were replaced by captive German officers.
Between 1945 and 1948, Camp 18 at Featherstone Park housed 25,000 Germans, although the exact figure at any one time is uncertain. The camp had three officers' compounds separated by a 'death line' and surrounded by watch towers and barbed wire. A fourth compound was for other ranks. Today the remains comprise foundations and a scattering of brick buildings in the parkland.
Featherstone was known as 'the camp of confidence' and commonly regarded as one of the six most successful rehabilitation camps in the country. Within a year of Lt Col Vickers assuming the post of Commandant in July 1945, internal camp divisions, watch towers, barbed wire and the Polish guard had disappeared. They were replaced by parole, out-of-camp voluntary labour, workshops and political or cultural courses. Capt Sulzbach, who arrived as camp interpreter in January 1946, also played an important part in rehabilitation and later founded the Featherstone Park Group to promote Anglo-German friendship. An inscription to Sulzbach exists on an old gate. (1)

A base camp. Large hutted camp consisting of a guard's compound, two prisoners' compounds and a sports field. The site footprint is still discernible. (2)

Remains of POW camp, believed to comprise hut bases. Camp was No.18. [Hexham Library holds copies of 5 issues of camp newspaper, 'Die Zeit am Tyne' for June-October 1946]. NGR NU 674 610. (3)

Remains of a Second World War Prisoner of War camp were recorded from air photographs. Featherstone Camp was originally built as a training facility for American troops and was later used for German prisoners of war. Remains of demolished buildings, a probable athletics track and enclosing banks were all seen on photographs from 1993. The camp in its entirety can be seen on 1946 vertical photographs. (4a-b)

The following information is taken from the Northumberland SMR -
Featherstone Camp was originally built in the early 1940s as a training facility for American troops and was known to GI inmates as 'Death Valley' because of its isolated location. The Americans made way for Italian Prisoners of War who, in turn, were replaced by captive German officers.

Between 1945 and 1948, Camp 18 at Featherstone Park housed 25,000 Germans, although the exact figure at any one time is uncertain. The camp had three officers' compounds separated by a 'death line' and surrounded by watch towers and barbed wire. A fourth compound was for other ranks. Today the remains comprise foundations and a scattering of brick buildings in the parkland.

Featherstone was known as 'the camp of confidence' and commonly regarded as one of the six most successful rehabilitation camps in the country. Within a year of Lt Col Vickers assuming the post of Commandant in July 1945, internal camp divisions, watch towers, barbed wire and the Polish guard had disappeared. They were replaced by parole, out-of-camp voluntary labour, workshops and political or cultural courses. Capt Sulzbach, who arrived as camp interpreter in January 1946, also played an important part in rehabilitation and later founded the Featherstone Park Group to promote Anglo-German friendship. An inscription to Sulzbach exists on an old gate. (4c)

Remains of POW camp, believed to comprise hut bases, known as No.18 Camp, located at Featherstone Park, near Haltwhistle, and sited to NY 674610. Hexham Library holds copies of five issues of the camp newspaper, "Die Zeit am Tyne" for June to October 1946. Constructed of brick, concrete and wood in the period 1939 to 1945. (4d)