2022

SC3876 : The Commandant and Intelligent Officers offices and quarters - Hutchinson Square Internment Camp

taken 2 years ago, near to Douglas, Isle of Man

The Commandant and Intelligent Officers offices and quarters - Hutchinson Square Internment Camp
The Commandant and Intelligent Officers offices and quarters - Hutchinson Square Internment Camp
Working from a sketch map made in 1941 by Dr. Bruno Ahrends, an architect, I have deduced that the first stairway on the left lead to the Commandants office. The middle and the one on the right lead to the intelligence officers offices.
The internees were perhaps fortunate in having Captain Hubert Daniel a 'keen drinking' 48 year old army officer as their Commandant. He achieved much for the internees in securing materials to ease the burden of potential boredom and at the same time to display skills.
These buildings were separated from the square and the main camp by a double row of a high barbed wire fence.
Hutchinson Square Internment Camp

In May 1940 Prime Minister Winston Churchill ordered the internment of all Austrian, German and Italian citizens living in Britain as collectively they were regarded as aliens. It was decided the Isle of Man with its position in the Irish Sea was an ideal spot as it was potentially escape proof.
Hutchinson Square and its nearby surrounds (Drury and Waverley Terraces) in Douglas were selected as one of ten such camps on the Island. In a short space of time all the Victorian buildings, houses, apartments and boarding houses in that area were requisitioned. The occupants had to leave, post haste, taking only personal possessions. All furniture, linen, cutlery and crockery had to remain. It opened on 13 July 1940.
Approximately 1,200 men were accommodated. In some cases where there had been ten occupants, up to thirty five were placed. Over time a selection and a vetting process was begun and not all remained in this captive state.
It soon became apparent that not all were ‘aliens’ as such and the camp officials quickly recognised it as housing world renowned artists, musicians and academics however it did include a spy. In time a University was created as well as a Technical school however many artists were able to demonstrate their arts with very limited resources and it became known as the ‘Artists Camp’.
Lectures and concerts were held particularly on the green squares.
It closed in March 1944 to become a prisoner of war camp. Any remaining internees (228) were transferred to the Peveril Camp in Peel.SC2484 : The former Peveril Internment Camp, Peel - The Creg Malin Hotel
(Article written: - April 2022)


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Richard Hoare and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
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Grid Square
SC3876, 286 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Richard Hoare   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Monday, 2 May, 2022   (more nearby)
Submitted
Tuesday, 10 May, 2022
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SC 3811 7673 [10m precision]
WGS84: 54:9.6467N 4:28.8579W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SC 3812 7672
View Direction
Northwest (about 315 degrees)
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Image Type (about): geograph 
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