The entire village population of 225 people was ordered to leave on 28 days' notice.
A sign left on the church door by the villagers reads: 'Please treat the church and houses with care; we have given up our homes where many of us lived for generations to help win the war to keep men free.'
The village schoolroom is now preserved as a museum showing how a village schoolroom looked in the 1920s.
Tyneham was never returned to its inhabitants after the war ended, as the War Office found the location ideal for military training.
The village is located within the Lulworth Ranges, which are frequently used for tank and artillery firing exercises.
Many of the buildings have been consolidated and stabilized to prevent total collapse while retaining their weathered appearance.
The village church of St. Mary has been restored and now hosts an exhibition about the history of the village.
Tyneham Village is a ghost village in Dorset that was compulsorily evacuated by the British military in 1943 during World War II to serve as a training area. Residents were told the move was temporary, but the village has remained under military jurisdiction ever since. It serves as an open-air museum where original buildings, including the school and church, have been preserved in a state of arrested decay. The village remains part of the Lulworth Ranges, an active military firing range. Because it is active military property, public access is restricted to specific periods. The site offers a window into rural life as it existed in the mid-20th century before the evacuation. Visitors walk through roofless cottages and restored structures that exhibit period-appropriate domestic items. The surrounding terrain is characterized by rugged, undeveloped coastal chalk hills.
The view of the row of ruined cottages from the main track looking toward the church tower.
Check the official Ministry of Defence firing range schedule online before travelling, as the village closes completely during live fire training.
Bring sturdy walking shoes as the village features uneven gravel paths and the surrounding area includes steep, uneven grassy terrain.
Carry cash for the car park donation box, which helps fund the preservation of the village site.
Assuming the village is open daily; always verify the military access schedule first to avoid a wasted trip.
Access is periodically restricted for military live-fire exercises, typically occurring on many weekends and certain weekdays; check the Lulworth Ranges firing calendar prior to arrival.
Do not enter fenced-off or restricted areas marked with warning signs, and stay on marked paths to avoid unexploded ordnance.
