Eden Camp Modern History Museum

In early 1942, a small contingent of Army personnel, under the command of a Sergeant, arrived at Malton, midway between York and Scarborough in North Yorkshire. Their task was to construct a barbed wire enclosure and erect tents to house the steady flow of enemy prisoners of war captured in North Africa. The site was named Eden Camp and the first inmates were two hundred and fifty Italian prisoners. These prisoners were put to work constructing a larger permanent camp, consisting of forty-five huts. The Italians were at the Camp from 1942 to 1944, then the Germans from 1944 to 1948. While at the camp the prisoners worked on the local farms under the control of the War Agriculture Officer.

In 1986, local business man Stan Johnson discovered that POW Camp 83 was still generally intact and that thirty-five of the original huts were in roughly the same condition as when the last of the 1,200 inmates left for the 'Fatherland' in 1948. Mr. Johnson bought the site and initially invested £750,000 to create, within the original Camp, the world's only Modern History Theme Museum.

The huts have been re-equipped to tell the story of The People's War, the social history of life in Britain from 1939 to 1945. So many Museums simply display exhibits in cabinets and on walls and are pretty dull affairs, but not Eden Camp. Realistic tableaux, with moving figures, authentic sounds and smells have been created to "transport you back in time". In one scene there is a living room of a typical wartime home in Britain. The family are seated in front of the fire, listening to the radio as Chamberlain announces "the declaration of war". You see the man move his arm to adjust the wireless set, the woman breathes, the tin bath sits in front of the flickering fire and the scene comes alive.

Each hut covers a different aspect of the story, starting with the rise of the Nazi Party, Hitler and the outbreak of war. Other topics include: Rationing, Evacuees, Propaganda, Home Guard, Home Front, War at Sea, The Blitz, The Street at War, Utility Clothing and Furniture, Women at War, The Land Army Girls, The Munitions Factories, The Observer Corps, Bomber Command, Pathfinders, Prisoners of War at home and abroad, The Auxiliary Fire Service, The WVS, The Red Cross, The Rescue Services, The Bevin Boys, U-Boats etc.

For some light relief, you can visit the Eden Camp Music Hall where you can sit down and watch a puppet show in which some of the great entertainers of the time are portrayed and the audience are invited to join in and sing "We'll meet again".

From 1990 to 1995 a series of huts were opened, creating a "Museum within a Museum". In these huts the military and political events of the Second World War around the world are covered in detail. Scenes such as Dunkirk, Africa, The Dambusters, The Great Escape, D-Day, V.E. and V.J. Days etc. can be found along with displays covering Africa, The Middle East, The Far East, Italy, Europe etc.etc. During 1992 a prefab was reconstructed on site and is an excellent example of the post war housing efforts. Eden Camp is a museum with a difference, it is historical and exciting and appeals to all ages and sexes!

The start of the new Millennium also marked a new era of development outside of the 1939-45 period for the museum. Exhibitions covering the history and events of the 1914-1918 'Great' War, and all the military conflicts that British military forces have been involved in since the end of World War Two means that we now present the most comprehensive coverage of 20th Century British military history in the world.

There is something for everyone here. We have excellent facilities here and are fully accessible for the disabled and visually impaired.

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