TYNEHAM GHOST VILLAGE

this is a video of my familys time in this Dorset village before they were forced to leave in 1943,
In November 1943 notice was given to the small population of the village and it's surrounds that they would be required to leave. We have a figure of 252 people from 102 properties in the "Parish of Tyneham", ie., an area that was more than the village, leaving before Christmas, they did however leave behind them what is now a famous notice pinned to the door of the church.

It reads:

'Please treat the church and houses with care; we have given up our homes where many of us lived for generations to help win the war to keep men free. We shall return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly.' The church organ and bells were removed to Steeple and other artefacts elsewhere.
The theory was that the village would be returned to the people after the war - it did not happen and in 1948 it received a compulsory purchase order from the army.
One of the ironies that is very apparent when visiting is the telephone box sitting in front of the post office - it was installed a few weeks before the evacuation.
Another is the story of Mark Bond who expected to grow up and inherit the manor house. Born in 1922 at Chideock he moved to Tyneham with his father in 1937 after his grandfather's death in 1935. The two-year gap is apparently because the house had to be let out for a short while to pay death duties.
Mark left Eton in 1940 and joined the rifle brigade. He saw much service and was wounded, captured and re-captured, seeing his wartime out in a German POW camp.
Having taken his place in our armed forces and given King & Country 20 years of his life and leaving as a general, he was only told in 1951 the house was not his to have. That information being kept from him for reasons of secrecy. That was the end for the village, which was already in poor condition and getting worse over the years, never to be occupied again. It makes for a very sad place.
The church has been repaired and is effectively a museum; the schoolhouse was turned into a museum anyway.
Because the tank ranges are still used the times for visiting are limited to holidays and weekends. There is now a car park especially to take the influx of visitors.
Lets take a look at the 'army factor' in the story line. The First World War brought great tank activity and subsequently activity at Bovington Camp. With that went the need to practice and eventually a gunnery range came into use east of Lulworth.
Come the Second World War all public access was barred. Improving weapons meant larger areas were needed to test on so Warbarrow, Tyneham and thereabouts was taken on.
After the war the War Office compulsorily purchased the area.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• TYNEHAM
• VILLAGE
• GHOST
• DORSET
• IMBER
• MoD

[loic1980]

its icelandic

[cods27]

My father in law went to tyneham school his name was Dennis james wellman,he is no longer with us,i married his daughter june who sadly has allso passed away,

[loic1980]

i know junes brother Peter as i have interviewed him for some films for tyneham

[loic1980]

this music is called Voon by Sigur Ros and islandic band

[clubsport911]

Beautiful - many thanks for the insight into your world. Perfect music, haunting images and all the time I'm thinking what must it have been like ?

Again, thanks

PS - what was that music ?

[loic1980]

this music is called Voon by Sigur Ros and islandic band

[urantiruslan]

i want to hang out with ghost

[talitakoomi]

@cods27 This comes late- but I am sorry for your loss... I found this video to be sad and the gov's actions outrageous!! All the history lost!! I am a young middle-aged woman in Colorado with no real family at present and I've never known my heritage except to hear of some long ago kin in the UK. My heart longs for both! Most people don't know how blessed they are to have deep roots and a strong sense of family lore. I hope the days to come bring you peace and joy....

[MrKimmeridgian]

I live very near tyneham :-)

[glitterknight]

A very poignant video. What a shame that the pledge was never honoured and that this lovely piece of England was allowed to fall into ruin. Not only the ruin of the village but of the villagers that had lived there for so many generations.

[macfunker]

That's so sad, I've only just heard of this place, I'm hoping I can visit.

[mmedefarge]

@loic1980 I loved the photos but it is truly sad that so many families were separated. War does that but one doesn't expect internal displacement.. I never met nor know my family left behind in a village in rural Spain after the civil war was lost. All scattered like leaves now, I suppose, since Franco made their farms into part of a national park in the Picos. I love the music but one question, Sigur Ros, you say is an "islandic band" do you mean one of the British Isles or Iceland?

[villaskulcs]

This is beautiful!

We have just visited Tyneham last weekend with my wife - it is amazingly misterious how the past slips over the present amongst those ruins...

It was a really unique experience seeing how the pictures on the walls echoing all the villagers living their life and seeing the contrast of the never-happened possibilities.

I am sure we'll go back soon.

Wishing all the best for those related to the village!

Kind regards,

Peter

[afterthetone]

Fascinating