Unusually dry conditions have uncovered a hidden chapter of Llandeilo’s wartime past at National Trust Cymru’s Dinefwr in Carmarthenshire.
Marks revealed in the landscape by the prolonged dry weather have exposed the outlines of former Nissen huts that once stood within the historic park. The temporary structures played an important role during and after the Second World War, serving first as a hospital and later as a prisoner of war camp.
The recently captured aerial image highlights features that are normally invisible at ground level. Variations in grass growth caused by the drought have revealed the footprint of the huts, providing a striking glimpse into a largely forgotten element of Dinefwr’s history.
In the years following the war, the Nissen huts took on a new purpose. At a time when housing was in short supply across Britain, the former military buildings were converted into homes for local families. The settlement became known locally as “Tin Town”, helping to ease post-war housing pressures and supporting the community during a period of significant change.
David Thomas, Archaeologist for National Trust Cymru, said
“Many people are familiar with Dinefwr’s nationally important parkland and medieval history, but these marks highlight a much more recent chapter in the site’s story. The huts served a range of important functions, from a wartime hospital and prisoner of war camp to much-needed housing for local families in the years after the war. Discoveries like this help us better understand how people adapted to the challenges of wartime and post-war life in rural Wales.”
