An artist’s impression of the proposed model Nissen hut at Springtown. Pic by Willie Deery
PLANS are afoot for a new monument to remember Derry’s Springtown Camp – a naval base where people squatted for years because of a lack of housing in the city..
Springtown Camp was heavily guarded by US Marines during World War Two.
But when the Green Berets returned home after the end of WWII, locals quickly moved in due inadequate housing.
They squatted in the camp from the mid-1940s through to the 1960s until it finally closed in 1967.
Under proposals, a model Nissan hut would be based at the Springtown and Northland roads.
Derry City and Strabane District Council said it has received a planning application for the proposed monument.
Springtown Camp with Pennyburn church in the far distance. Pic by Willie Deery
Willie Deery, who lived at the camp, is behind the proposed monument.
“This would be a fitting tribute,” Mr Deery told BBC News NI.
“Hugo McConnell and myself thought about it for a long time and everyone has been really supportive.
“Yes, there were extremely difficult times and people even died on the camp. But there are so many lovely stories too.
“There’s a team of people behind the scenes working on funding and we’re hoping the model hut would attract visitors to the area.
“It would mark a very important era and the local people would appreciate it.”
The site had 302 Nissen huts, a chapel, gym, laundry, canteen, barber’s shop, theatre and even a jail.
But the huts had no water, electricity or heating.
After a public outcry, the Unionist Majority Corporation, which had obtained power through gerrymandering, granted temporary rentals to the new residents and charged rent.
That agreement was to last six months and the families were to be allocated housing.
But that didn’t happen.
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