Eerie photos reveal the ghost village of Imber in Salisbury, Wiltshire, which was abandoned during World War II to allow troops to train for military exercises. Just before Christmas in 1943, villagers were ordered to leave so British and American forces could prepare for the invasion of Europe. Residents were never allowed to return, and the village remains part of the Ministry of Defence's Salisbury Plain training area.
The village is now a military training zone, with crumbling buildings, bricked-up windows, and darkened doorways. The only fully intact structure is St Giles Church, which serves as the main attraction. Imber is open to the public for only 50 days a year, with an estimated 5,000 visitors attending a recent open day.
Network Rail chairman Sir Peter Hendy, a member of Imberbus which runs the bus service, described the village as "the most obscure place you could possibly run a bus service." He noted that the service operates just one day a year, raising £13,000 for the church. This year, for the first time in 20 years, the church will host a christening for an Army officer serving on the plain. The font was removed in 1950, so the rector will bring a bowl and water.
