Dartmoor Prison opens for French prisoners of war
- When
- 1809
- Where
- Princetown, Dartmoor, Devon
- Episodes
- 1
HM Prison Dartmoor, located in Princetown on Dartmoor in Devon, opened in 1809 to house French prisoners of war. The facility, owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, received its first French captives that year, filling to capacity by year's end. This initial phase established the prison's role in housing Napoleonic War prisoners, distinct from later American incarcerations.
Episodes
Background and detail
Background. HM Prison Dartmoor is a Category C men's prison situated in Princetown, high on Dartmoor in the English county of Devon. The prison is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall and operated by His Majesty's Prison Service. Its historical significance includes housing prisoners of war from the Napoleonic Wars, as documented by exhibits at the Dartmoor Prison Museum.
Opening and Initial Capacity. In 1809, the first French prisoners arrived at Dartmoor. The prison was full by the end of that year. This event marks the beginning of the prison's use for housing prisoners of war, specifically French captives during the Napoleonic era, before the later arrival of American sailors.
Sources
- HM Prison Dartmoor Wikipedia, revision of 2026-09-13
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