Prees Heath Camp

Prees Health Camp was a training base for the British Army. It opened in 1915 and had a capacity for approximately 30,000 troops for the purpose of training in trench warfare. During wartime the site developed to include a supplies store, a railway depot and one mile of branch line from Crewe and Shrewsbury Railway. After the armistice the site was downgraded, however, the British Government maintained a presence for the continued purpose of training army personnel.

The Lonsdale Battalion was located here for a short period of time. They left their home training ground at Blackhall Camp, Carlisle, on the 8 May. They joined the Glasgow men of the 15th, 16th and 17th Battalions of the Highland Light Infantry, forming the 97th Brigade under the command Brigadier-General Hacket Thompson. The Borders and Highlanders remained here until 22 June when, owing to the unsuitability of the ground for Brigade training, they moved to Wensleydale in Yorkshire.

Second World War

 * 1939 – Becomes an internment camp for screening Austrian and German refugees.
 * 1941 – Closes 4 October.
 * 1942 – Construction of airfield on site completed. Opened 1 August and named Whitchchurch Heath.
 * 1943 – Site renamed RAF Tilstock, 1 July.