Tyneham Village in Dorset
In November 1943, the 225 residents of Tyneham were given 28 days to leave their homes. The British Army needed the valley — along with 3,000 acres of surrounding farmland — as a live firing range in preparation for the D-Day landings. The villagers were told they could return once the war was over. They never did.
Where is Tyneham?
Tyneham Village is located in the county of Dorset, England. It is situated within the Isle of Purbeck, a picturesque region known for its stunning landscapes and historic sites.
The village is nestled in a valley near the Jurassic Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its geological significance and natural beauty like the nearby Flower's Barrow.
Tyneham's coordinates are approximately 50.628°N latitude and 2.162°W longitude. Follow this link for directions to Tyneham if you are already in the local area.
Dorset's Forgotten Village - A Brief History
Before the evacuation, Tyneham was a working agricultural community. The Mintern family ran a dairy supplying the village with milk and butter. The Taylor family farmed the land. Shepherd Welland — whose name still appears in the church register — tended sheep on the surrounding hillsides. The village had its own school, post office, church and rectory, and most residents had lived there their entire lives.
The evacuation of 1943 changed all of that. Read the full history of Tyneham village.
The evacuation during World War 2 was a pivotal moment in Tyneham village history. Prior to this, Tyneham thrived as an idyllic countryside village.
Key Buildings Within The Village
The village boasted its own array of essential institutions, including a quaint church, a functional school, a peaceful rectory, numerous farms, and a collection of charming cottages.
Dominating the village's architectural landscape was the imposing Tyneham House, also referred to as the Great House, an emblem of elegance and stature.
North East View of Tyneham House 1943
Tyneham Village Life
There was no electricity and no mains water, but Tyneham was far from cut off. The post office had a telephone — the only one in the village — installed during the First World War. The school kept detailed records of attendance at village entertainments, cricket matches and the annual harvest. Around 250 people called it home.
The Tyneham Documentary
The most detailed account of life in Tyneham is from the Tyneham Remembered Documentary. It contains many interviews with the people who lived in the village. It's definitely recommended for anyone with an interest in Tyneham village and its history.
This Documentary can be purchased directly from this very website, either as a physical DVD or digital download which you can download instantly and enjoy on unlimited smart devices.
By purchasing a copy of Tyneham Remembered, you help maintain the upkeep of this website.
Why Did Tyneham's Inhabitants Leave?
The story behind the evacuation of Tyneham Village is a poignant chapter in British history. In 1943, during the height of World War II, the British military requisitioned the village and the surrounding area for training purposes.
Due to its proximity to the Lulworth firing ranges, the government decided to claim Tyneham village and much of its surrounding land as a place to train the Allied forces.
The villagers were told they must temporarily leave their homes for the greater good.
This decision was made as part of the preparation for critical military operations, including the D-Day landings.
The residents of Tyneham were faced with a difficult and heart-wrenching choice. The military needed their homes and lands to create a realistic training environment for troops preparing for the challenges of warfare.
As a result, the villagers were given a mere 28 days' notice to evacuate their homes, leaving behind the lives they had built over generations.
The promise was that they would be able to return once the war was over. However, the war extended beyond its initial projections, and the village and its surroundings became an essential training ground for various military exercises. As a consequence, the return of the villagers never materialized.
In December 1943, the last church service was held in the village's St. Mary's Church, and the villagers left their homes, believing they would be back soon.
They didn't know it at the time, but once the war was over, they would never be allowed to return to their homes. As they packed up their belongings and left, they pinned a note to the door of the village church which read:
The Note Left on The Church Door
Did The Villagers Ever Return?
The promise that residents could return was never kept. After the war the Army retained the range, and despite sustained campaigns through the 1960s and 70s, the village was never handed back.
Nearly all the original evacuees have now died. Their memories were recorded in the Tyneham Remembered documentary while the last survivors were still alive. Descendants of village families — including the Bucklers, the Warrs and the Taylors — still live in the surrounding area, some of whom have left their own accounts in the comments below.
Tyneham is managed as a heritage site by the Ministry of Defence. It is not National Trust. Entry is free. Please check the opening dates before visiting.
Frequently Asked Questions
26 thoughts on “Tyneham Village”
I would encourage anyone who has not been there to make a visit.
If you did find that music for Country Tracks referenced, I'd love any information you have.
Thank you.
Bruce Kerr
Roseville, CA, USA
BKerrLaw@aol.com
My family has a huge amount of history and were some of the residents that were displaced but returned.
Sadly my Grandmother isn't alive any more but my cousins still live in the area near Grange Road and farm the area and maintain all of the arable land which is used by the military and the mining.
The mining company have destroyed some of the farm houses on the land, where my grand parents and parents grew up and they wanted to evict my cousins - they were part of the BBC program COAST.
If anyone is interested in our family history here then please get in touch.
FYI my grand mother is Violet Burt and her desk is the one with the butter fly drawing.
She remembers well many events that happened at Tyneham. She will be 95 on the 16th April 2016 and still going strong. We hope to visit Tyneham with mother this summer.
Ever hopeful the MOD will relent. Plenty of empty bases in Scotland where locals would welcome income!
Maybe Sturgeon could help?
Good luck.
Audrey Galpin
At the evacuation he moved to a tiny cottage dug into the side of a hill very near the village of Corfe close to where his daughter lived and as far as I know descendants live to this day.
When the village was first opened to the public at bank holidays, it was vital that you kept to the marked paths as it was not unusual for a wandering cow or sheep to get killed by a shell buried since the war.
My father would take us there to visit the church especially, and to wander round the village where he would tell us who lived where and tales about the villagers.
September 2017
a truly incredible experience an absolute must visit.
Our visit was marred by a group of people who thought it was ok to climb on the buildings and make a lot of noise in doing so - the parents weren't keeping the children under control but were themselves climbing on the old walls!
Thankfully the outstanding views as one drives to and from the village made up for that and we loved the opportunity to go to Tyneham.
We will go back to Tyneham once this pandemic has passed so we can walk into the church, school and outbuildings.
Why can't the army give this beautiful village back the peace and tranquility it enjoyed before they arrived. It makes me weep to think of the poor residents that were given promises to return but promises, that were never honoured.
It's an absolute disgrace. The sadness in that village will live with me forever.
Tyneham Village opening times powered by official MOD 2026 schedule
Hours: Typically 9am to dusk (exhibitions 10am-4pm). Always confirm via GOV.UK or call 01929 404714.