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DT1 Town Talk: Walking in their Shoes project
discovers interesting historical facts 12:00pm Wednesday 26th February 2014 in News
The past
month for the Heritage Lottery Funded project Walking in their Shoes has seen
the team take up their deerstalkers and magnifying glasses, as their latest
research begins to uncover the latest clues and are now seeing some very
exciting results of our investigations.
Some of
our best discoveries this month include the revelation Dorchester had one of the largest German
Prison of War camps in the country, with an estimated 5,000 inmates at its
peak, nearly half the town’s population at the time.
With 2014
marking the significant centenary since the UK declaring war on Germany, we are
keen to make as many findings as possible about this important narrative of
Dorset’s role in the war.
We also
found out Routes, 5 North Square, Dorset Youth Association’s Advice and
Information Café where we meet, was a lodging home for off duty soldiers and a
popular car servicing company next door was a hotspot for refreshments and
sanctuary when they were not on the frontline.
We know
that the home was first opened in 1888 by the Church and Temperance Societies
and tried to make a warm, comforting place for soldiers and to encourage them
to stay out of the pubs.
As young
people we encourage each other to do the same today.
