Rough Down Wiltshire

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.243137/-2.0452197 or Grid Reference ST9649. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

St Giles Church, Imber, Wiltshire

Viewed in August 2022. The Visit Churches website records "This lovely thirteenth century church stands in rolling downland deep inside the military training area of Salisbury Plain. It is all that remains of the ghost village of Imber (now just abandoned houses), which was evacuated for military training purposes in 1943." The Grade I listed building is now a redundant church in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It was declared redundant on November 1st 2002 and was vested in the Trust on September 14th 2005.

Shell Grayson

Road to Imber, passing The Plantation

Within Imber Range, on a public open day.

David Martin

Military bridge on Imber Range

Parallel to the main access road.

David Martin

Rusting armoured vehicle, east of Imber village

Imber Range is littered with derelict military vehicles, still used in training exercises.

David Martin

Urban warfare training area, Imber Village

Seen from the top of the churchyard. This view of ST9648 : St Giles Church, Imber was taken from the same spot during a public open day.

David Martin

St Giles Church, Imber

Taken from the same spot as ST9648 : Urban warfare training area, Imber Village, looking in a slightly different direction, on one of the few days when Imber was open to the public.

David Martin

St Giles Church, Imber

The village remains abandoned within the Imber Range. Taken on one of the few days when the roads and village were open to the public.

David Martin

Warning sign on the approach to Imber village

Contrary to what the sign says, this was most definitely a public open day, with coffee being served in the church and plenty of visitors, many no doubt prompted by a BBC News story 2 days earlier "Eighty years since families left 'ghost village' on Salisbury Plain" Link

David Martin

Imber Court

Within the village of Imber, this is one of the principal buildings abandoned when the military took over in 1943. The notice is addressed to troops and reminds them, among other things, to ensure that rooms are swept, toilets are clean and "all ammunition and pyrotechnics are collected" at the end of each training exercise.

David Martin

Nag's Head Cottages, Imber

These are among the houses that were taken over by the military in 1943 and to which the villagers were never allowed to return. Public access on New Year's Day 2024, with many visitors no doubt prompted by this BBC News story 2 days earlier "Eighty years since families left 'ghost village' on Salisbury Plain" Link

David Martin

Along the edge of the Urban warfare training area, Imber Village

David Martin

Looking into the Urban warfare training area, Imber Village

On a day when the public were allowed to visit, although access is restricted to the road and church, due to the risk of unexploded military ordnance...

David Martin

Ancient and modern at Imber

Modern structures built for urban warfare training, with St Giles Church in the distance. This is close to being a reverse view from ST9648 : Urban warfare training area, Imber Village.

David Martin

You wait for ages then.....

The 1653 bus from Brazen Bottom approaches New Zealand Farm Camp followed by the 1659 from Imber. A busy place at 1719 on this Saturday!

Michael Meilton

Imber - The 'Lost' Village

Military "houses" erected for training purposes in Imber, the village commandeered and evacuated by the MoD in 1943 and never given back to its residents. The road through the village is permanently closed except for two or three occasions each year when access is permitted and the church, the only remaining complete structure of the original village, is open to visitors.

Helen C Casey

Earthwork, West Lavington Down

The earthwork seen on the right of the picture is of no historical significance; it probably serves or served some purpose in army training.

Vieve Forward

Well, near Imber

The well, which is under the rusted grating between the RH and middle post, is in what may have been a village site, possibly Medieval. Link

Vieve Forward

Tank on ridge, near Imber

This derelict tank, perhaps the same as in Link sits on the ridge possibly for use as target practice by soldiers during training exercises. (Photo taken on zoom.)

Vieve Forward