Some 150 residents of Imber were given 47 days’ notice to evacuate so that it could be turned into a military training area for troops and told they would be able to return following World War Two
Take a look inside the ‘ghost’ village that was abandoned 82 years ago – to help aid the fight against the Nazis.
Imber in Wiltshire was deserted in 1943 when all residents were forced out of their homes so that it could be turned into a military training area for troops.
Some 150 residents were given 47 days’ notice to evacuate under the promise that they would be able to return following World War Two.
But more than 80 years later, the village is still occupied by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) with the public only allowed in for 12 days each year.
This includes Easter, a summer day, a caroling festival just before Christmas, and this week- where roads will be open from 8am on December 29 to 8am m on January 2.
Many of the original cottages have been destroyed by time, but the original structures of the Grade I-listed St Giles Church and the old pub still remain.
Custodian Neil Skelton, 77, from Wilton says that there is always a huge number of visitors to the church each year which will be open from 11:00am to 4pm daily daily.
It is free to visit during open days, and any donations will go toward the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) for maintenance and restoration.
He said: “We do get a lot of visitors. In the summer on the bus day we had about 4,000 visitors and over the bank holiday we had 3,000.
“Some people come every time it is open because they feel they should come. People come out of interest for the history.
“It can get quite busy in the church, some days you can’t move because there are so many people there.
“It is very important from the point of view of sites of special scientific interest and of course the wildlife here is quite extensive. No one has lived in Imber for 82 years now, so time has stood still.”
Neil worked for the CCT for 30 years until he retired in 2008, and volunteered for the job as custodian of the lost church.
He says that he enjoys the peace and quiet within the abandoned village, and loves working the chaotic open days.
The church sells refreshments and merchandise, and they raise an incredible £15,000 to £20,000 every year.
Neil added: “When I offered to take it on as a volunteer they couldn’t believe their luck.
“I just love the atmosphere and I have always had a soft spot for the little church. I just enjoy being there. It is a good church with a lot of history.
“It all stems from back in 1964 when I was 16 years old and I cycled to Imber all the way from Salisbury and back in one day. It captured my imagination.
“Being a bell ringer, I always thought this was one church I was never going to ring bells at, but we put bells back in in 2010 so I fulfilled that ambition.”
Neil says that most of the old cottages have been destroyed as they had thatched roofs and water got inside, while others were badly damaged during training.
Most other houses are either hollowed-out shells or modern, windowless buildings built as sets for military training.
Despite the ghost-town feel, Neil says that the village is actually a lovely and tranquil place to work.
He added: “When there is nobody about it is lovely. I often go on my own and I love it, it’s a lovely peaceful place to be. The training area is very big, it is about the size of the Isle of Wight.
“I enjoy meeting people, I have a good team of volunteers and we all work together very well.
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