Island Farm (Bridgend)

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This was the site of Island Farm, a prisoner of war camp from the second world war. It was home to many Nazi POWs including several SS officers who would face trial in Nuremburg.

On the 10th March 1945, around 70 POWs escaped from the camp, via a long tunnel. Much like in the film, 'The Great Escape'. The tunnel started in Hut Nine (the only one left standing). The construction was much like that of the tunnel in 'The Great Escape', using planks from their own beds to prop up the tunnel roof, they also built a false wall out of the soil removed, and covered up the noise via singing. All prisoners were eventually captured.

The WRU (Welsh Rugby Union), submitted plans for a rugby acadamy for Wales, which was to be seated on this site. They faced severe opposition from the locals of Bridgend and historians. However former Bridgend council leader, Jeff Jones, was said to have called Island Farm (and in particular Hut Nine) a "shrine to nazism". Also showing himself as a 'man of integrity', he branded the analysis featured on an Island Farm enthusiast site, "crap" on a HTV (former name for ITV1 Wales) broadcast.