A FORMER prisoner of war camp in County Durham is now rated alongside Stonehenge and Blenheim Palace in terms of historic importance.

Harperley POW Camp, in Weardale, County Durham, yesterday became the first ever prisoner of war camp to be awarded scheduled monument status.

By being placed on the elite list the 17-acre site, which was home to almost 1,000 Italian and German men during the Second World War, is now protected by law.

Camp 93, as it was known during wartime, was one of 100 purpose-built camps in Britain, yet English Heritage believe only ten are still standing.

Kate Wilson, inspector of ancient monuments for English Heritage, said: "Very few camps survived and it is unlikely there are any in such good condition, that was why it is so important the site is protected as a scheduled monument.

"There is a danger that sites still in living memory are not thought of as history and therefore not preserved as they should be.

"Now we can help the owners restore and preserve the 49 remaining huts, including a theatre, chapel, canteen and jail, in the best possible way."

Making the announcement, Arts Minister Tessa Blackstone said: "Harperley provides a fascinating time capsule from a period in our history that has been largely forgotten.

"This is a perfect example of the way in which real people's experiences can transform otherwise ordinary buildings into a living part of our heritage."

Owners James and Lisa McCleod, of nearby Hamsterley, bought the site in November 2001 and plan to restore it so it can be opened as a museum.

Mrs McCleod said: "We're really proud to own something rated so highly.

"We believe in what we're doing here and have never thought of giving up, but this level of interest reminds us that what we're doing is really important."

Mr McCleod said: "Now that the camp has been made a scheduled monument we can tap into the expertise of English Heritage.

"And, hopefully, more grants will be available to help us do a really good job of preserving the buildings and creating a monument to the people who lived here and a really interesting place to visit."

Before the McCleods bought the site and huts, which had been used as agricultural buildings until 1999, there were plans to transform it into a state-of-the-art business park.

Councillor Olive Brown, leader of Wear Valley District Council, said: "I'm delighted the camp will be protected for future generations, hopefully it will become a popular visitor attraction and give the dale the boost it needs.

"At the time I was disappointed that the park didn't go ahead, but this is the best option for the sake of the site and heritage."

From prisoner-of-war camp to scheduled monument

1943 Camp 93 was built to Ministry of Works standard to house Italian prisoners

1944 Around 900 'low risk' Germans were sent to the camp. Prisoners-of-war were sent into the community to do farm, forestry and road building work. Between four to 1,000 men at the camp at any time, encouraged by the camp commander they created home comforts such as paintings on the walls, wooden 'curtains' and a camp newspaper Der Quell (The Source)

1945 Second World War ends

1946 With repatriation around 700 Germans were sent home. Eight Germans decided not to return to their native land and gained British civilian status

1948 Camp closed completely. Soon after, it was sold to a farmer who used many of the huts for grain storage or chicken coops

1999 The owner died and the 200-acre farm was split into three lots, responsibility for the camp was placed with a panel of trustees

2000 Plans submitted to convert site into a business park but the proposal was dropped

2001 James and Lisa McCleod purchase the lot, which contains 49 of the 55 original buildings. The couple clear away years of overgrown weeds to reveal what has been preserved, including fine wall paintings

2002 Harperley POW Camp made a scheduled monument.