St Giles' Church, ImberVillagers were evacuated from Imber, on Salisbury Plain, 62 years ago to allow for military training during the Second World War. They have never been allowed to return to their homes...

"Little Imber on the down, seven miles from any town"

Imber is a remote village on the chalk downland of Salisbury Plain but it is a village without villagers. No one has lived there since 1943 when it was evacuated during the Second World War so it could be used to train soldiers. After the war ended it was decided that the village was still needed for Army training and despite public protests the official inquiry went in the Army's favour.

The picturesque village of Imber, with its traditional thatched cottages, died 62 years ago. Today most of the original houses have been replaced by fake buildings erected by the Army but there are still a few original structures dotted in between, many of which are now in a sad state of disrepair. The only recognisable building is St Giles Church, the only building in the village that is not now owned by the Ministry of Defence.

The public has a chance to discover Imber for themselves on various open days throughout the year, this usually includes the Easter weekend, the first Saturday in September for St Giles' Day and the period between Christmas and New Year. An Imber Day was also introduced so previous residents could return annually to tend graves, meet old friends and participate in Eucharist and evensong at St Giles' Church.