A historic North Yorkshire attraction once used as a prisoner‑of‑war facility has changed hands, joining the portfolio of the company behind York’s Chocolate Story and The Loch Ness Centre, Continuum Attractions.
Eden Camp was constructed near Malton in 1942 to house Italian prisoners of war and the site was later transformed into a museum after being acquired by Stan Johnson in 1985, with the attraction opening its doors in 1987. Since his death in 2015, his children, Howard Johnson and Paula Peace, have continued to run and develop the museum.
Open seasonally from March to November, Eden Camp welcomes around 125,000 visitors each year and is widely recognised for its vivid, immersive approach to interpreting life during the Second World War.
The transaction was overseen by leisure property specialist Christie & Co, which brought the museum to market last year. Continuum—whose wider portfolio includes York’s Chocolate Story, The Real Mary King’s Close, The Loch Ness Centre and Oxford Castle & Prison—completed the acquisition with legal support from Knights.
Andrew Pawson, Chief Executive at Continuum Attractions, said: "We are thrilled to welcome Eden Camp into the Continuum family. Its authenticity, educational value and reputation as a much-loved visitor attraction make it a natural fit for us. I remember visiting Eden Camp many years ago and appreciating the outstanding depth it offers our understanding of life at war, along with the immersive way it tells us those stories. It has always been about people - from the veterans who helped create it, to the generations of schoolchildren who continue to learn from it - and we are committed to protecting that legacy while also securing its future. Our aim is to invest for the long-term, support its dedicated team and ensure that Eden Camp continues to inspire guests of all ages with its powerful storytelling."
Corporate Partner, Victoria Inness, said:
“Eden Camp is a much‑loved and historically significant visitor attraction in North Yorkshire, and its sale to Continuum future‑proofs its continued development as an authentic and engaging experience for visitors. Our team at Knights delivered practical, sector‑led advice to support a smooth transaction, bringing together the right expertise from across the region to see the deal over the line.”
The acquisition was led by Victoria Inness, with support from Aaron Chaddha, Rachel Witherick and Christine Simons, as well as multidisciplinary teams across Knights, reflecting the firm’s wide-ranging expertise and commitment to a seamless, one-team approach.