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The lost village of Imber had intrigued me for many years. It’s located miles from anywhere in the middle of Salisbury plain in Wiltshire and slap bang in the middle of the military training area.
The village was evacuated in World War 2 as the for allied troop training and the military couldn’t guarantee the safety of the villagers during operations.
All 150 villagers were given 47 days notice to leave in their homes and businesses in November 1943 to allow US soldiers to train for the D Day landings. Residents were promised they could return, but were never allowed back, leaving the village under Ministry of Defence control.
Only the 13th Century St Giles Church remains intact and the site is only open to the public for limited days each year. Former villagers are allowed to be buried in the churchyard.
Jon had spotted Imber was open to visit over some of the Christmas break so we decided to have a walk and explore. It was a lovely sunny day although pretty cold. It may have been New Years Eve, but a lot of others had the same idea.
We had hoped to grab a coffee in the church, but the place was packed. Information boards on the history of the church were in the Chancel. Many were fascinated by the history and you walked around at the pace of the people in front. No room to overtake!
At the other end was the bell tower. No bells to see, just the ropes, but you could see a chart on one of the walls – perhaps the ringing order of the bells for certain tunes.
Only a handful of the old village buildings remain as shells – a couple of farmhouses, The Bell Inn and Imber Court (large manor house) which has been fenced off with the machine gun turrets still in place at each corner of walls.
A set of concrete structures have been built close by to the church for army training.
We parked in the main carpark a short walk outside of the village. Those in the know had driven into the village and parked along side the road – there was plenty of spaces … or would have been if people had their sensible heads on!
Final photo of the day some old army vehicles were left abandoned over the disused bridge in the car park.
