Hutments and Prefabs by Sheepfoot Lane and Middleton Road

From September 1914, this area was used as a tented camp for four battalions of the Manchester Regiment. In 1915 the park became a convalescent centre with the tents replaced by wooden army huts and used by recuperating soldiers. In the early 1920s they were converted into accommodation, with some buildings used for a shop, washhouse and bathhouse. The prefabs were built in 1947 on the site by Sheepfoot Lane and Middleton Road. In total 207 detached homes were assembled by German prisoners of war. Intended as temporary accommodation due to war time housing shortages, families were still living in the prefabs until they were demolished in the 1960s. The White Heather Club was a charity set up between the wars to help poor children. A camp was created behind the hutments in the 1920s and 1930s using surplus tents with organised games and activities.