Imber, Wiltshire, UK


In November 1943, as WWII raged, the residents of Imber, a small village in Wiltshire, were called to a meeting at the local school. There, they were given 47 days’ notice to leave their homes. For years, the government had been buying much of the land surrounding Imber, on Salisbury Plain, for military manouvres, and now the village itself was required. As all 115 Imber villagers moved out, US forces moved in, using the now-deserted streets for training in preparation for D Day.

 Though devastated to leave their homes, most residents did so without complaint, feeling it was their duty to help the war effort. But even once peace was declared, the residents of Imber were never permitted to return, despite protests and appeals. Now, the village is still owned by the Ministry of Defence. Most of the year, unlike many ghost towns, Imber remains strictly out of bounds, but there is very limited public access, usually on bank holidays.

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