THE LOST VILLAGE

 

Hello everyone,  I`ve wanted to do this posting since last year but as I had very few readers it didn`t seem worth it. TYNEHAM is a village in DORSET, ENGLAND, that was sacrificed for the war effort in 1943. Jim and I have been going to Dorset every year for quite some time, but have never visited . Perhaps this year we will go and see for ourselves.

 

THE LOST VILLAGE OF TYNEHAM

Tyneham is a small village in the valley below Whiteway Hill. It is no ordinary village, but one where time has all but stood still. There was a time when Tyneham was populated, the villagers going about there day to day lives just like anybody else.

   a village house

Then in 1943, the villagers all recieved letters telling them to leave their homes for the duration of the war.  They were promised they would go back as soon as it was safe to do, but that promise never came to fruition and they never lived there again.  It is still Ministry of Defence land, as indeed is all of the surrounding area. The only access to Tyneham is some weekends when there is no firing practice on the ranges.  Locals and tourists alike are used to hearing the the loud booming of exploding shells over a wide area across the Isle of Purbeck, as the army carry out their manouvres.

Now the village lies in ruins except for the church, and the old schoolhouse that is preserved as it was left all those years ago. The names of pupils are still written over their coat pegs, their work still on their desks.

 The old Schoolhouse

It is a eerie feeling walking around the village, haunted by times gone by and time stood still.  The houses, the laundrey cottages and the rectory are all in ruins.  Many of them are now too dangerous to walk into and there is no public access allowed.

  Tyneham Post Office

A walk out of the village leads to the ruins of Tyneham Farm and the old farmlands where sheep still graze, leading on to the ruins of Sea Cottage and the secluded beach of Worbarrow Bay.

The War Department Letter

In mid-November 1943 residents received an unexpected letter from a Major-General at the War Department. It read:

In order to give our troops the fullest opportunity to perfect their training in the use of modern weapons of war, the Army must have an area of land particularly suited to their special needs and in which they can use live shells.  For this reason you will realise the chosen area must be cleared of all civilians.

The most careful search has been made to find an area suitable for the Army`s purpose and which, at the same time, will involve the smallest number of persons and property.  The area decided on, are the most careful study and consultation between all the Government Authorities concerned, lies roughly inside of the square formed by East Lulworth-East Stoke-East Holme-Kimmeridge Bay.

Then handwritten: including your properties

It is regretted that, in the National Interest, it is necessary to remove you from your homes, and everything possible will be done to help you, both by payment of compensation, and by finding accomodation if you are unable to do so yourself.

The date on which the military will take over this area is the 19th December next, and all civilians must be out of the area by that date.

A special office will be opened at Westport House, Wareham, on Wednesday 17th November, and you will be able to get advice between the hours of 10am and 7pm, from there on your personal problems and difficulties . Any letters should be sent to that address also for the present.

The Government appreciate that this is no small sacrifice which you are asked to make, but they are sure that you will give this further help towards winning the war with a good heart.

C.H. Miller

Major-General   i/c Administration

Southern Command