Exploring Tyneham Village | Dorset’s Abandoned WWII Village (Full Walking Tour)

Step inside Tyneham, Dorset’s famous “lost village,” in this full walking tour filmed during one of its many open days. My video begins with an overview of visitor facilities before I make my way towards the old farmhouse. Within the grounds you’ll find several exhibitions, including one on the barn’s surprising history as a local theatre and community venue.

Our walk then continues into the heart of the village, taking in the cottages, the former village school, the rectory, the church of St. Mary, and the former gardener’s cottage. Each building offers a glimpse into the lives of the residents who were forced to leave in 1943 when the village was requisitioned by the War Office during the Second World War.

Tyneham’s story is one of beauty, loss, and resilience. Although I couldn’t include every historical detail within the video, I’ve got some links below for those who would like to explore the village’s past in more depth. You’ll also find a link for current opening times, as Tyneham sits within the active Lulworth Ranges and is only accessible when the MOD firing ranges are closed to training.

📖Brief History of Tyneham Village

Often called Dorset’s lost village or Dorset’s abandoned village, Tyneham was once a small, close-knit rural community nestled between the Purbeck Hills and the Jurassic Coast. In December 1943, during the Second World War, the War Office (now the MoD) requisitioned the village and surrounding land to expand the Lulworth live-fire training ranges. The 225 residents were given just a few weeks’ notice to leave their homes, with a promise that they would be allowed to return once the war ended.

The war came and went, but the promise was never fulfilled. The land remained under military control, and Tyneham became frozen in time. Over the following decades, the buildings deteriorated, and nature began reclaiming the village—though the church and school remained intact enough to later become exhibitions.

After the war, many former residents and their descendants campaigned to return to their homes. Public pressure grew, particularly from the 1960s onwards, with petitions, newspaper campaigns, and emotional testimonies from displaced families. Even the National Trust gave support to at least preserve the village if the families couldn’t return. Although the MoD did not restore the village to civilian occupation, the continuous advocacy did result in significant political debate and increased public interest in Tyneham’s fate.

Eventually, the MoD agreed to allow controlled public access on days when the Lulworth Ranges were not in use for firing practice. This compromise, although it did not return the village to its former residents, ensured that Tyneham’s history could be preserved, visited, and remembered. Today, the village stands as one of the UK’s most poignant reminders of wartime displacement and the long-term impact of military requisitioning.

⏱️Timestamps
00:00 Intro & Visitor Information
01:24 Tyneham Farm
11:00 Tyneham Village
21:13 Outro

🔗Links
Further reading and historical resources are linked below for anyone wishing to explore Tyneham’s past in more detail. I’ve also provided a link to the official range opening times so you can plan your visit safely, as Tyneham lies within the active MOD firing range and is only open on specific days.

https://tynehamvillage.org
https://dorset-nl.org.uk/location/tyn...
https://www.historic-uk.com/Destinati...
https://www.southwestcoastpath.org.uk...

https://www.gov.uk/government/publica...