The evacuation of Tyneham Village is a stark reminder of the sacrifices of war. In 1943, at the peak of World War II, the British military took over the community and its surrounding area for training purposes – and no one has lived there since.
It remains a deserted ghost village – often referred to as Dorset’s ‘lost’ village – frozen in time.
Tucked away on the Jurassic Coast, a visit here is like stepping back in time. Quaint stone cottages and ruins, weathered by the years, provide a captivating insight into the lives of the villagers who upped and left.
Nestled in a verdant valley about a mile from the sea, it’s hard to believe that 80 years ago, these echoing streets were alive with the laughter and tears of people, going about their daily lives.
In 1943, the 252 inhabitants of Tyneham were told they needed to temporarily vacate their homes for the greater good.
This was crucial for military operations – to create a realistic environment for troops preparing for the rigours of warfare.
Tyneham, due to its close proximity to the Lulworth firing ranges, was the perfect location and much of its surrounding land was soon claimed by the Government as a training ground for Allied forces.
Residents packed up the lives they had built over generations, on the promise that they could return once war was over.
On 16 November, 1943, each household received a letter explaining that by the 19th of the following month they’d need to leave their homes.
Just six days before Christmas, on December 19, 1943, the last service was held in the village’s St. Mary’s Church.
And, as they gathered heir belongings and left, locals pinned a poignant note to the door of the church which read: “Please treat the church and houses with care. We have given up our homes, where many of us have lived for generations, to help win the war to keep men free.
“We will return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly.”
But they never came back.
The war lasted longer than initially expected, and the village and its 7,500 acres of surrounding hedgerows became a permanent training area for various military exercises ,after the Army placed a compulsory purchase order on the land in 1948.
Tyneham remains part of the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Gunnery School, an important training establishment of the British Army.
Most of the original inhabitants have now passed away. But some can still be seen on Tyneham Remembered – a must-watch film taking viewers inside the lives of villagers before they were forced to leave.
Prior to the evacuation, Tyneham thrived as an idyllic countryside location – a bygone era of simplicity and rural charm.
Now a time capsule of the 1940s, it is a stone’s throw from the tranquil Worbarrow Bay – a beautiful shallow inlet to the east of Lulworth Cove.
With its close proximity to the sea and the scenic allure of the surrounding landscape – including the 2,500 year old Iron Age hillfort called Flower’s Barrow and the majestic headlands of Worbarrow Tout – it’s easy to see what a beautiful place this must once have been to live.
To the north lie Grange Hill, White Hill from Wye and Povington Hill – one of the highest points on the chain of the Purbeck Hills – from where elongated flat rocks can be seen stretching out into the English Channel.
To the south lies Tyneham Cap and the distinctive silhouette of Gad Cliff, framed by the warming hues of Gold Down, part of the Lulworth Ranges.
A path heading southwest towards the sea concludes at Warbarrow Bay, from where, on a clear day to the west, you can see the Isle of Portland.
These days, it’s possible for visitors to wander through Tyneham’s deserted streets where, once upon a time, as well as the church, there was a thriving school, a rectory, several farms, and a cluster of delightful cottages.
Owned by the Ministry of Defence, it is operated as a heritage site and open to the public.
The architectural centrepiece of the village used to be the grand Tyneham House, also known as the Great House, an elegant manor house,
But, taken over by the military, it was subsequently demolished.
Tyneham Ranges continues to be used for military training, so anyone wanting to visit, needs to check the official website to make sure it’s possible.
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we bring you two special special collector’s magazines that look back at events that led to the end of World War II in Europe and marked a new era.
In the VE Day 80: Anniversary Collector’s Edition we share photographs from the street parties that were held all over Britain, while esteemed author and journalist Paul Routledge paints a picture of how the day was bittersweet, mixed with jubilation and hope for the future, as well as sadness and regret for the past. Routledge also recounts the key events of the Second World War, including Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain and Pearl Harbour. The magazine costs £9.99.
Also available is World War Two – A History in 50 Photographs, a definitive pictorial account of the war. Carefully chosen from hundreds of thousands of images, this commemorative magazine shares 50 exceptional photographs – including many rarely seen shots – that capture the devastating moments, horror, hope and eventual triumph of World War Two. The magazine costs £6.99.
You can buy your copies here!
*Subject to availability. Worldwide shipping available.
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