London, Sep 30 (DPA) A former World War II prisoner-of-war camp in Britain has been advertised for sale on eBay as a “unique leisure attraction” at 900,000 pounds ($1.4 million).
The Harperley Prisoner of War Camp near Crook, in County Durham in northeast Britain, housed German and Italian prisoners during the 1939-1945 conflict.
The complex of rows of grey huts was turned into a tourist attraction in 2004, but its present owners, James and Lisa McLeod, said their plans for further restoration had run out of cash.
“A unique opportunity to buy a piece of history,” says the classified ad placed Tuesday on the e-Bay site, which is usually reserved for auctions.
It specifies the project as a “unique leisure attraction”, which includes planning permission for 13 holiday homes.
“The camp consists of 49 purpose-built huts which include two exceptional buildings, the first is a theatre which has the remains of decorated interior panels still surviving,” the advert says.
“The second building is a canteen, a building set aside for showing typical German scenes, the Rhine Valley, animals, woodland and lakeland scenes.”
The site boasts a garden centre, restaurant, farm shop and a museum. The theatre was built by inmates who also did the wall paintings.
“Strictly no viewing without an appointment,” ends the advert.
“We have put the camp up for sale because we have run out of money,” McLeod said. “It is a great business opportunity but needs a cash injection.”
He had decided to advertise the camp on eBay in order to reach an international market, as no estate agent could have provided the same level of publicity.
