Dartmoor Prison is a scary sort of a place, it is a bleak moor in Southern England. It was at one time Englands sort of Alcatraz.
Dartmoor - a desolate and ancient moor abounds with myths and spooky legends - such as the 'devils footprints' and has inspired some creepy tales such
as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's ' The Hound of the Baskervilles.'
What I have just found out though is that it was built by French POWs and American POWs, apparently over 6000 Americans were held prisoner here during
the 1812 war, although most were held in Halifax, Canada, this group were shipped across the Atlantic to England.
I find that quite bizarre from a 20th / 21st century perspective. It seems that the prisoners at the time also were building the place, so it was
partically built by American POWs.
Anyway - I thought you guys may find this quite interesting or not
Today, people visit Princetown and are drawn by some fascination to have a peek at the one-time infamous Dartmoor Prison and I should imagine that
their thoughts on the austere, granite fortress vary. Some shiver and walk away whilst others will sympathise with those locked behind its high walls.
The below link talks about the tales of the American Prisoners stuck in this bleak hell hole of a prison.
From:
www.legendarydartmoor.co.uk...
Link to the Dartmoor Prison site:
www.dartmoor-prison.co.uk...
edit on 2-2-2013 by HelenConway because: (no reason given)
edit on 2-2-2013 by HelenConway because: (no reason given)
