Abandoned UK ghost village that’s cut off for 310 days a year finally opens to public
A TOWN frozen in time since World War II will open to the public for a limited time.
The abandoned ghost village stays cut off from the world for most of the year, with visits only permitted this week.
History buffs and nature lovers alike swarm to the area, where 150 people once lived until 1943.
Since then, the abandoned village of Imber in Wiltshire, only sees visitors for 12 days out of the year.
During the second World War, residents of the area were given 47 days to evacuate their homes so the village could be turned into a military training area for troops.
While they were promised they would be able to return after the war, the village is still occupied by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to this day.
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And now it has invited the public to visit, with roads opening through Imber this week, until 8am on Friday, January 2.
Public access has been granted to the village as well as the Grade I-listed St Giles Church, which will be open from 11am to 4pm daily.
The original surviving building is free to visit during open days with any donations going towards the Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) for maintenance and restoration.
Along with an old pub, the church is one of the few remaining original structures in the village.
Most of the larger stone buildings were damaged during military training, and were subsequently demolished.
Meanwhile, other houses in the village are either hollowed-out shells or have been converted into modern windowless buildings createdto simulate urban environments for military training.
While those who once lived in the village have the right to be buried on the church grounds, the only living residents now are an abundance of undisturbed wildlife, including owls, badgers, birds, and foxes.
Imber also holds open days during Easter weekend and a single day in summer, with all visitors required to adhere to the public rights of way and designated areas, and comply with signposting.