Site of US Army Hospital, Shugborough Park

Description:Looking west along original World War II access road along southern edge of site. The sports pavilion (built on a World War II hut base) and sports equipment store building (dating from World War II) can be seen. Behind the pavilion is woodland at Lea Cop, a water tower or boiler house building stands there.

The 312th Station Hospital on Shugborough Park was built during 1943 for the use of the United States Army during the Second World War. The thousand bed hospital had over 500 medical officers, medical other ranks and female nurses under the command of Colonel Ernest Parsons. It specialised as a psychiatric unit.

In 1945 the war Office took over the Hospital and it became a war crimes hospital until 1948 and was part used as Prisoner of War Camp No. 99.

After 1948 it was suggested the hospital be adapted for civilian patients, but nothing came of the plans and little now remains on the site. In the late 1960s the site was laid out as a sports field for Staffordshire County Council employees.