Ghost village where everyone forced to leave overnight and heartbreaking note pinned to church

A deserted Dorset village stands frozen in time, a haunting reminder of a community torn apart by war.

Tucked away on Dorset's breathtaking Jurassic Coast, Tyneham village offers visitors an eerie glimpse into the past.

The settlement provides a window into the lives of residents who were compelled to leave their beloved homes during the Second World War.

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The year 1943 marked a turning point for the thriving community of Tyneham.

During the height of World War Two, the British military commandeered the village for training exercises.

Heartbroken residents were handed just a month's notice to vacate properties where numerous families had resided for generations.

The government seized Tyneham village and its surrounding countryside to serve as a training facility for Allied forces, owing to its proximity to the Lulworth firing range.

Residents departed believing their sacrifice would serve the nation's interests and anticipated returning after the conflict ended.

A message was attached to the church door, which stated: "Please treat the church and houses with care. We have given up our homes where many of us have lived for generations, to help win the war to keep men free. We will return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly."

Tragically, the villagers were never permitted to return to their homes in Tyneham, as the village and its surrounding land remained a military training ground even after World War Two concluded.

Today, the village remains frozen in time nearly 80 years later and has become a 'thought-provoking and interesting' tourist attraction.

It opens to visitors at certain times throughout the year, with guests praising its 'fascinating insights into the lives of residents'.

During periods when the village is closed to the public, access gates are locked at dusk each evening.

One TripAdvisor reviewer wrote: "This deserted village has such an interesting history. The boards within the church detailing the villagers fight to be allowed to return to the village and the current position are very moving."

Another visitor on TripAdvisor called it 'a wonderful place - very atmospheric and sad but in a way that keeps drawing you back to visit'.

Tyneham's final resident, Peter Wellman, passed away aged 100 in April this year - the centenarian made one last pilgrimage to the village in 2024 to see where he was born and raised.

During his final 2024 visit to Tyneham, Peter recalled his childhood, telling the Dorset Echo: "We had no electricity, no mains gas and no running water – we had to pump that from near the church.

"I remember going to the beach and fishing and we often had mackerel. We were happy until we got moved out."

Tyneham village, nestled in the Isle of Purbeck, is not actually an island but a peninsula, bordered by the English Channel in the picturesque county of Dorset.