Cambridge professor uncovers hidden history of Dartmoor Prison

A University of Cambridge professor has revealed long-forgotten historical events about Dartmoor Prison in a newly published book. 

Historian Nicholas Guyatt, a lecturer in modern history at the university, specialises in the racial and religious history of the United States. 

His latest work, The Hated Cage, uncovers the story of thousands of American prisoners held at Dartmoor during the War of 1812, a chapter largely unknown in both American and British history.

The book tells the gripping story of over six thousand American sailors, some as young as thirteen, held in Dartmoor Prison during the War of 1812. 

ABOVE: Professor Guyatt's publication, "The Hated Cage"

Known as the “hated cage,” Dartmoor was meant to crush the prisoners, both physically and mentally. Despite the harsh conditions, life carried on behind its stone walls. 

The men taught each other new languages and skills, put on plays, and organised boxing matches. In their attempts to escape, they used every classic trick, including finding clever ways to hide the entrances to tunnels they dug.

In an exclusive interview with The Moorlander, Professor Guyatt explained how his discovery of this hidden history came about.

“I was on holiday in Devon and dragged my family to Dartmoor on a day trip. We drove up to the prison, and I was amazed that I hadn’t heard the story about what happened there,” he said.

 “I’ve taught US history for twenty years, but I’d never come across the saga of the 6,550 Americans, mostly sailors, who ended up in the prison. I quickly realised no American historians had written about their ordeal."

Dartmoor Prison, originally built to house prisoners of war during the Napoleonic Wars, became a holding facility for American sailors captured during the War of 1812. 

Professor Guyatt stumbled upon records of this little-known history during his research at the National Archives in Kew, as well as in the United States’ National Archives in Maryland. These documents provided a detailed look into the lives of the prisoners, helping him piece together their harrowing experience.

“It took quite a while to get to grips with some of the sources, including the giant prison register, which holds a wealth of information about every prisoner brought to Dartmoor,” Professor Guyatt said. 

His work brings to light the conditions these men faced and the complex dynamics inside the prison walls.

The Hated Cage is one of Professor Guyatt’s recent releases within the last few years, adding to his established body of work on US history. 

While he doesn’t have another book on Dartmoor lined up, he remains fascinated by its history. 

He remarked on the transformation of Dartmoor into a criminal facility: “Even if the reopening of Dartmoor as a criminal prison in the 1850s involved a lot of building work and a huge overhaul of the prison’s layout, it’s amazing that the prison is still standing and in use.”

He also noted the potential for further research if the government were to close Dartmoor Prison, which has been under threat for some time. 

“If the government ever decides to close Dartmoor, and I know they keep threatening to do this, but then failing to keep their promise! There will be an amazing amount of archaeological work to do on the site to capture more insights on the prison’s first phase, the bit of its history I write about in The Hated Cage,” he said.

The book has garnered attention both in the UK and the US, with Professor Guyatt sharing his research in Princetown and Plymouth, where some locals were familiar with the prison’s history but not its American connection.