Images from Historic Building Recording of Nissen Huts at Nesscliffe Camp in Wilcott, Shropshire March 2021.
Cotswold Archaeology, 2022. https://doi.org/10.5284/1093307. How to cite using this DOI
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- ADS Collection: 4635
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1093307
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
This collection comprises images from Historic Building Recording of Nissen Huts at Nesscliffe Camp in Wilcott, Shropshire. Cotswold Archaeology was commissioned by Reds10 on behalf of the MoD to undertake this work in March 2021.
The Huts were due to be demolished as part of a programme of building upgrade work. The level of recording was Level 2, according to Historic England guidelines, which is described as a 'descriptive' recording.
The Huts were constructed during the latter part of WWII to house Prisoners of War (POW). The site was formerly an army camp serving an ordnance depot prior to it being converted to a POW camp. It was decommissioned in 1948 and became an army training camp.
The building recording has identified that the Huts are typical of the Nissen Hut typology, being constructed in a half circle composition formed of metal ribs clad in corrugated metal. Due to the more permanent nature of these Huts, they have been built on concrete bases with brick front and rear elevations, some with a central spine brick wall too. Internally they are clad in plasterboard or thin boarding fixed by timber battens.
Most of the Huts have been upgraded over time to include uPVC windows and gas heating. Evidence of former stove heating was seen in the repair of stove flue openings and chimneys in some Huts. Some of the Huts also retain more original features, such as metal Crittall style windows and panelled doors. The Huts have a range of uses, ranging from classroom to residential, and generally speaking the Huts used for residential purposes had been given the most upgrading treatment. Given the Huts are very similar in core construction but vary in detail and thermal performance according to use, assessment has recorded Huts by use type, noting different features inherent in the Huts based on their function.
