Why no one has lived in 'lost' UK village for more than 80 years despite it being open to public

No one has lived in a little Dorset village for over 80 years despite it now being open to the public at certain times.

Tyneham is often referred to as the 'village that died for England' after 225 residents were evacuated back in 1943.

In December of that year, locals were forced to leave their homes within 28 days by order of the British army during World War II.

As the army occupied the small town, as well as some 7,500 acres of the surrounding farmland area, residents left a polite notice on the door to the church.

According to Dorset Guide, it 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 with the war and keep men free.

The note added: "We shall return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly."

225 residents were evacuated from the town back in 1943 (Getty Stock Images)

Why did the army want Tyneham?

So it turns out that the British army wanted the area for military training during WWII in the lead up to D-Day.

Promises were reportedly made to residents that they could one day return, but this never happened.

"The takeover was supposed to be temporary, but in 1948, it was retained for military training," Rob Crossan, who visited Tyneham in 2024, wrote for CN Traveller.

"In a 2001 census, the population was 0, and in 2014, the parish was abolished.

"Today, with the village itself and its surrounding meadows, woodlands, coves, bays and cliffs still in the hands of the Ministry of Defence, Tyneham has been allowed to decay and keep its ghosts hidden.

"Visiting this ghost village involves consulting the MoD’s online timetable to ensure that the surrounding lanes and the village aren’t closed off for military manoeuvres."

Tyneham is known as the 'village that died for England' (Getty Stock Images)

Can you visit Tyneham?

Tyneham is now open to visitors during specific times, as you can still see several of the original buildings such as 'The Row', which was a group of four terraced houses, numbered starting from the end closest to the church.

Both the restored church and school that remain standing now house exhibitions about the village and its former residents.

At Tyneham Farm, some of the outbuildings have also been restored, and there's a picnic area where visitors can relax and enjoy the surroundings.

"I stand by the 1930s phone box and peer inside the smudged windows," Rob added.

"There, still intact, is a receiver and the long-vanished ‘A’ and ‘B’ buttons (you pressed the ‘B’ button to get your money back if the person you were calling didn’t pick up).

"From here, I can imagine the distant booms and explosions of military exercises that still occur when Tyneham is closed off to the outside world."

He said: "I feel a chill run through me. Any second now, I expect to feel a soft hand on my shoulder, perhaps belonging to one of the long-dead villagers who now, I suspect, haunt what’s left of their homes."