Imber: Abandoned WW2 village in Wiltshire to open at Easter

Imber Village, located near Warminster, was left deserted over 80 years ago when residents living in the village were forced to evacuate their homes during World War Two in 1943.

The site was used as a military training ground throughout the war efforts and was inhabited by American troops in 1944.

But the people of Imber never returned home, and the village remains under the control of the Ministry of Defence to this day.

This year, for five days only, tourists and locals will be invited to walk through history and explore the ‘village where time stopped’.

A family posing outside 29 Church Street in Imber (Image: Newsquest)

The empty village of Imber has an eerie feel. (Image: Trevor Porter)

Imber Village and the routes running through it will be open to the public between 6pm on Friday March, 29, and 8am on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

Visitors can walk around the few abandoned cottages and visit the historic St Giles church for refreshments and mementoes.

According to records, the 152 villagers of Imber were originally told that they would be able to return home after six months, as promised by the Government.

But the occupants of one farm had to be forcibly evicted by the Army. Albert Nash, who had been the village blacksmith for over 40 years, was believed to have been found sobbing over his anvil.

He later became the first resident to die and was brought back to Imber for burial.