Ena Gowland was delighted to welcome Andreas Maas to Spring Gardens last week.  Andreas is the grandson of Willi Maass, the German POW who worked at Ena’s father’s farm, back in 1946.  A toiletry bag, given to Ena as a Christmas present by Willi, was returned to the Maass family in September 2020.

Andreas and his partner Lilian, visited Low Garth Farm, Copley Lane where Willi had worked.  The current owners, Richard and Kathleen Lowson showed them round the farm.  Special permission was granted by James and Lisa McLeod, owners of the former POW Camp at Harperley, and Andreas, Lilian and Ena were given a tour of the site.  They saw the canteen building which houses a number of scenes painted by prisoners and the theatre where James showed a film which a former POW, Johannes Heerdegen, had produced. 

Above: Two scenes painted by the POWs.

Above: Andreas and Lilian watching the film presentation in the theatre.

There was a display of photos of the camp and objects made by POWs. 

Above: A selection of photos and artefacts.

One artefact was a great surprise – a pair of slippers decorated with pom-poms, made from sacking material.   Ena takes up the story:

“At Christmas Willi asked what size shoe mam, dad and Marjorie took and was explaining how they made slippers with pom-poms, and what he had in mind.  I remember dad saying, “No pom-poms”.

Willi came in with brown paper parcels, 7 in all, wrapped in string and all named.  For me a handbag, made from uniforms with his name and number printed inside.  For Jean a platform you held in your hand and jiggled it, it had chicks on strings that picked at corn.  For Eric, a grey horse that looked like our Prince yoked in a coop cart.  For James a wooden bull nosed German car.  For Marjorie, mam and dad a pair of slippers each.  Dads had the largest pom-poms, we all saw the joke and laughed and laughed.” 

Lilian had to try on the slippers.  They fitted her! 

Above: The slippers made by POWs with pom-poms.

It was a lovely meeting, one enjoyed by Ena and her guests.  Neighbours, Duncan and Elaine Vizor helped out, ensuring the visit was trouble-free.  Today (27th) Andreas and Lilian left for home in Switzerland.

In 2002, the camp was listed as an ancient monument by English Heritage. About 20 years ago, the property was opened as a tourist enterprise but closed about 2007. 

For earlier posts, see   

THE STEPHENSON FARM & GERMAN POW WILLI MAASS.

The following article appeared in the Northern Echo 27 November 2023.