FEPOW Memorial Building

About the museum

The building was set up by COFEPOW, the charity of the children, families and friends of the Far East prisoners of war. COFEPOW began in the late 1990s and became a registered charity in 1999. The building was officially opened on 15 August 2005, the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in the Far East, in front of more than 1,000 people.

It was designed to look like the huts in which prisoners were held, and it stands near memorials to the Burma and Sumatra railways, which were built by prisoners of war. Close by are the Hellships memorial garden and the Changi lychgates.

Inside, artefacts, documents and personal stories tell of the men, women and children who were imprisoned or interned by Japan and of those who died in captivity. There is an archive on the upper floor, and families can have a page about their relative added to the photo album kept in the building. COFEPOW still looks after the building and its surrounding grove, and holds an annual remembrance service there.

Key themes

• Timber memorial building designed to resemble a prisoner-of-war hut
• Displays of artefacts, documents and personal stories
• Archive on the upper floor
• Burma Railway and Sumatra Railway memorials nearby
• Hellships memorial garden and Changi lychgates

Permanent exhibition

• FEPOW Memorial Building displays – Artefacts, documents and personal stories about prisoners of war and civilian internees in the Far East, with an archive on the upper floor.

Founded

2005

Operated by

COFEPOW – The Children (Families and Friends) of the Far East Prisoners of War

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to the Gardens is free. A daily parking charge applies to all visitors, including Blue Badge holders; booking a visit in advance saves on that charge.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The following information is for the National Remembrance Gardens as a whole; it does not mention the FEPOW building itself. There are 15 accessible parking spaces near the Remembrance Centre, bookable online, and the route from the car park to the Remembrance Centre is level. A Changing Places toilet (RADAR key from the Welcome Desk) and two more accessible toilets are in the Remembrance Centre, with another in Heroes’ Square. Mobility scooters can be hired for £10 a day and wheelchairs are available for a donation, both in limited numbers. The land train is accessible for manual wheelchair users. Hearing loops are at the Welcome Desk, shop and restaurant. Assistance dogs are allowed in all areas, and carers receive a free ticket to events and activities.

Kids & families

The Gardens offer outdoor trails, holiday activities and children’s play areas. The FEPOW building itself is not described as a family attraction.

Getting there & parking

The Gardens are on Croxall Road in Alrewas, Staffordshire, close to the Midlands motorway network. The Gardens’ website gives no public transport information.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Museum shop

The Gardens have a restaurant and a shop in the visitor facilities.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit