Ilford Polish Camp – (Ilford Park), Newton Abbot, Devon
A crisp November morning saw us getting up super early and head to Ilford Polish Camp in Newton Abbot. Part of the grounds are live so we had to choose our access route carefully. After about ten minutes, as is most often the case, we found a hole in a fence. And so we were in.
Luckily we had entered the site at it’s most interesting part – the accommodation. Room upon room filled with war memorabilia, journals, letters, newspapers – some of these things should be in a museum!
We managed to see quite a lot of the site before we bumped in to the care taker! Absolutely shit ourselves as we turned a corner right in to him! He was a really nice person, and gave us a little whirlwind tour before booting us out!
Ilford Polish Camp opened in September 1948 – one of 45 hostels across Britain set up to house the 200,000 exiled Poles who had fought alongside the Allies.
Built 60 years ago, at its peak the site was home to 600 exiled Polish people. Sadly, Ilford Polish Camp, and I assume all the personal belongings with it, has been demolished.
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My Grandmother was a Matron here, I visited often with my parents and sisters especially when we were quite young. Remember walking through the long corridors to meet Babcia when she finished work and going to the shop on site for groceries. Lots of fond childhood memories of Ilford Park and the surrounding area including Trago Mills which I believe is still there.
Hi Krysia,
I was a baby when we moved to Stover. My father was the doctor there until he died in ’66. He saw all the residents as well as running the 57 bed sick bay. He started the occupational therapy too.
When was your Babcia there?
Krysia Smith
(nee Schindler)
Hi I’ve got pictures from a visit here in Nov 2009 a long time before they knocked it all down. Admin if you like them I’m happy to share – I’ve also got pictures of Sandhill park Hospital tanker March 2011, 8 months before the fire there – again I’m happy to share, just need a way of doing so!!
Hi! There was an old Polish priest living there with ‘spiritual gifts’ after he died he communicated with Cynthia Sandys… and the ‘letters’ were published by Neville Spearman called ‘The Awakening Letters’ he was called Father Andrew.
Do you know his surname?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/devon/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8386000/8386754.stm
I tried to salvage as much as I could ahead of the bulldozers. A lot of the papers and letters are now with the Sikorski Institute in London.
I’d love to see or hear your story! I’ve just read your page it sounds amazing! So pleased you saved it.
Hi Ellie, I am hoping to deposit all remaining documents I found with the Newton Abbot museum. I am on facebook. Feel free to message me; I’d be happy to reply.
Thank you for what you did. I was born here to young parents in 1953 who escaped Stalins ethnic cleansing in what is now Ukraine. I have a photo of my sister and I sitting on the grass in front of what was our temporary home. My parents and extended family left Stover in 1958 to come to Canada and Australia. Have few memories, but going to Newton Abbott for our passport documents and walking near the Lake. It was our families refuge from hell of war. Appreciate what you have done so very much. Joanna
Hi Joanna, I am hoping to deposit all remaining documents I found with the Newton Abbot museum. I am on facebook. Feel free to message me and I’d be happy to reply.
I love your actions Caroline, as future historians will wish to know more! – and I suspect that you already know the Polish Resettlement Camps in UK site composed by Zosia & Jurek Biegus https://www.northwickparkpolishdpcamp.co.uk/
So much information is provided there on Polish exiled people who arrived in UK after WW2..
A look at another site: https://www.rycerze.co.uk/where-did-we-play
tells the story of a Polish band, who featured regularly at Polish Dances at Ilford Park in the sixties, eighties & nineties. I was there, it was pure nostalgia and I loved every minute of it.
Jurek Zdanko
Hello, is this site still accessible? I would like to take some photos there :)
Everything has gone, all that is left is a modern block that is used as a care home.
The site is still accessible. The main school/community building still stands. Unfortunately it is wrecked. All of the wiring has been ripped from the walls and it’s full of graffiti. Part of the roof in the assembly hall has collapsed so be careful. If you go up the field at the back and turn left there are also two of the dormitories, accessible through a gap in the silver fence. It’s very dark so bring a torch. Looks like a clear up crew has been through as nothing but rubble now. There is also another building on the left, just past the occupied houses as soon as you come off the roundabout. It is pretty cool. Nice old fireplace and stuff inside.
not everything has gone. The foundations of all the buildings remain and there are a few remaining buildings left near the Veteran’s home. Not certain about their purpose except maybe to help protect any remaining bats! The old building that was used for the Saturday School I think also still remains. But yes, the majority of the site has been levelled and not used for mobile homes. I’ve had a mooch around. It looks sad, but archaeologists years from now will have enough remains to reconstruct what was once there. And hopefully with personal stories and some of the documents I was able to salvage there will be a story left to tell. xx
I lived there from ’48 until ’66. If you want any information about that period I’d be happy to help.
I went to the Ingsdon Convent School from ’51 to ’56. There were quite a few Polish girls there, maybe one in my form. But every so often they gave an amazing display of dancing, I was entranced by their dresses, national costume I assume. Never forgotten!
We used to drive along the road of the “camp”, my dad told me they’d helped us in the war. It was good education for me, as in 1980s(?), lots of Polish people came here to work, I could correct some of the racist banter that went on.
I remember one name from school, Ann Masurek. Can’t remember her face though! Nothing comes up on Facebook really.
Thanks for your ongoing research. I live in Derbyshire now.
Elizabeth Ellis (now Liz Lindsay)
Nice snaps. My nan was a resident at Illford Park before she sadly passed away in 2009. My Dad was raised there with his brother, sister and mother. I’m 31 and can remember visiting the old building before they moved into the new buildings. Dad was also a member of the snooker team they had there. I’ve got some great memories from there and feel proud of my Polish roots.
Does anyone know whether this is still standing and can be accessed?
Jess, if you read the report it clearly says it’s been demolished.
The information would not load so needed to ask, thanks
There are still 2 buildings left Jess, for some reason they haven’t been demolished :)
I believe that’s down to bats. Law dictates developers & especially demolition crews can’t go anywhere near a bat population.
Hello, I live a mile away from there, definitely not worth a visit anymore, like you said all demolished now.
It’s been levelled to the foundations. There is a new purpose-built more modern home, fully active at the far end.
The main part is apparently used as a static caravan site.
Adam, I remember Joe. We were at Fawley Court in the 60s
I’ll mention it when I next see him.
Hello Adam, my Grandmother lived here in this place. I did visit once when we were young, though I remember more of an impression rather than the place. We lived at the other end of the country and so could not go often. Her name was Zofia Galka. I wonder if you or anyone you know would have known her at all?
Great memories! The Polish Band “Rycerze” from Stratford on Avon of which I was a member, used to play several times at Polish Dances at The Community Hall at Ilford Park Polish Home back in the 1980’s and 1990’s. It seemed that all the Polish people from South Devon used to congregate there on these occassions. Adam, your father and your uncle were there too, and on occassions your Aunt Halina from London would come up. As my Mum, Rozalia Zdanko, and your Nan (pani Kopinska) were good friends going back to Polish Camps in UK (late 1940’s and 1950’s) in Maghull, Fairford, Springhill and Northwick Park, I do wonder if the Kopinski’s would commit to a meeting or reunion for old time’s sake? Jurek Zdanko
You can contact me by e-mail: george@allianceseals.co.uk or Tel. 01527 584000
My Mother grew up in the Polish settlement as my Grandmother and Grandfather were settled there. I was lucky enough to spend many years exploring the abandoned site and looking around my Grandparents old barrack, although I was surprised to find a poster of Adam Ant in there! Such a shame it was knocked down, was a very interesting place filled with loads of memories and would have been the perfect location for a horror film with all those creepy wheelchairs sitting in abandoned corridors. I believe the last building is standing due to bat conservation.
Myself and my partner visited this site on Monday, evidently most of it is completely gutted, and no signs of any sort of real history remains, but still an interesting area.
I was wondering if you had gotten access to the last standing building (I mean standing as in not completely holed by a sledge hammer) surrounded by fencing closest to the still operating nursing home.
Of course I’m not asking for direct access points but am intrigued into if it is even possible.
Thanks for your time :)
It was a long time ago, Jade. I honestly can’t remember which buildings we got in to before being discovered by the caretaker.
Hello!
I recently visited the abandoned Dairy Crest Factory or Creamery in Torrington with a friend (we’re both photography students!), but unfortunately we bumped into a man seemingly working there who told us we shouldn’t be on private property.. oops!
We didn’t manage to get the look around the inside like we hoped, but we are planning to return there soon to take some better images.
I was wondering how you got inside the creamery and to the lift? The images you took are great!
Thanks for the help,
Kat
I suppose the best piece of advice would be to not go in through the front door…
Haha I would imagine you’re right. I think some of the metal fencing was loose so we will try that :)
Hi, I’ve been exploring for years but have only found out it’s a “sport”!
I’m based in Plymouth and have found some interesting buildings that are worth a look. They’re not on the scale as some of yours but just walking around an old pub or station house I find amazing. I do love the term urban explorer, it sums me up really!
Hope to speak soon,
Darren
Good to have you on board, Darren! Likewise, I had been an “urban explorer” for years before I even knew the term existed or there was a massive online community.
Hi thanks for replying, what’s the next step then? Do you guys meet up or anything ?
Hey Darren!
I’m around the Plymouth area too and your comment piqued my interest! If you have any locations you could give me a heads up about, it’d be awesome as I mostly do my thing out in the sticks but am looking for some good spots in Plymouth :)
Thanks and happy exploring!
H
Forgot to add, I’m not after any access details. Just good areas of Plymouth to find decent buildings… I like researching history and things about the building and finding access points for myself :)
Cheers :)
Hi, I am in Ivybridge at the moment, I am looking for lost places. Can you help me to find or join with me together? Would be nice to hear from you. Andreas
Hi, I am in Ivybridge at the moment, I am looking for lost places. Can you help me to find or join with me together? Would be nice to hear from you. Andreas
Hi, great website – I found it doing some research on the underground hospital on Portland. That was 2 hours ago and I’ve become happily distracted reading through your site.
This particular exploration caught my eye. My Grandad was a Polish WW2 vet who ended up in England after the war and met his wife, my Nan, in Devon. It could have even been Newton Abbot as I know they settled down nearby. I wonder if he could have ever stayed here?!
Of course I don’t expect you have the answer, but how fascinating none-the-less.
Anyway, loving the site. Keep up the great work!
Hi Tony, thanks for the comment.
At the bottom of the BBC article on Ilford Park, there’s contact information for Caroline Nicholson who was collecting stories and salvaging some of the personal artefacts left behind. She might be able to help you?
Good morning, I am looking for information about my great-grandfather who fought with General Anders and died in Newton Abbot, I know exactly where he lived and where he was buried, but all his documents are in England. Please give me a hint where I could start my search, the documents were to be handed over to the museum, but I don’t know if that happened. I would like to know the fate of my great-grandfather during and after the war
I am looking for Jadzka Symanska se is maybe 67 year old
There is an elderly care home next door to where Ilford park was standing, best try there!
Great idea.
Hello,
Unfortunately Jadka passed away some years ago, I am a good friend of her brother.
Take care
Hello, I am looking into family history and the journey of the deportees to Siberia in particular. My Mother and Grandmother survived and my Grandmother lived in this camp. She has since passed though I would love to hear any news of her from anyone who knew her, Zofia Galka. Thanks.
There is a good site on Polish Resettlement Camps in UK https://www.northwickparkpolishdpcamp.co.uk/ where you can trace the heartbreaking story of exiled Polish people and their arrival in the UK at various camps like Stover/Ilford Park, Northwick Park in Gloucesteshire, etc.
Also do look up the site of Our Story RYCERZE who played at dances at Ilford Park in the 1960’s, rght up until 1980’s to 1990’s.