Imber

The OPC is Amanda Wood-Woolley

Imber Village Prior to 1943 Gallery          Imber Village Post 1943 Gallery

Contiguous Parishes (our neighbours)

Chitterne All Saints – East Coulston – Edington – Erlestoke – Great Cheverell – Heytesbury – Knook – Little Cheverell – Tilshead – West Lavington

Websites of Interest

St Giles Church – Website for church opening times.
Audio Slideshow – Some poignant images from the village open days.
Imber Village – Welcome to the Lost Village.

The Parish Church of St. Giles

St. Giles Gallery          St. Giles Interior Gallery          St. Giles Churchyard Gallery

Church Memorials

Last Resting Place of Sara Harris 1663          Last Resting Place of John Wadman 1688         William Dean Memorial Plaque 1884

Church Supported Charities and Funding

Salisbury Infirmary 1858

Parish Register Transcripts

Marriages

1624-1837

Parish Registers held at WSHC

Baptisms 1709-1942
Marriages 1710-1943
Burials 1709-1967

Parish Registers in Wilts 1888

Parish History

The village of Imber is located in an isolated area of the Salisbury Plain, in the south-west of the county of Wiltshire. It is approximately 2.5 miles (4km) west of the A360 Road between Tilshead and West Lavington.

Imber is a ghost village nestled on the Salisbury Plain.  The residents were evicted by the Ministry of Defence in December 1943 so that American troops could prepare for the invasion of Europe.  After the war, villagers attempted to return but were refused access.  The Church is the only building in the village that has been spared by the warfare activities and church services are still held occasionally attended by former villagers and their descendants.   Access is totally banned without the specific permission of the MOD and even when the church is opened to the public on its rare opening days then the military preside over visitors ensuring no-one strays away from the permitted access areas.          A Short History

Lewis’s Topographical Dictionary of England 1845          Notice to Quit Letter to Residents 1943          Village to be Evacuated 1943          Village Won’t Be Forgotten 2011

Civil Registration

1837 – Present Warminster Registration District

Maps

Map of Imber Prior to Evacuation

Population

Population Figures 1801-2011

Village Poem

Little Imber on the Downe
Seven miles from any Towne
Sheep bleats the only sound
Life twer sweet with ne’er a frown
Oh let us bide on Imber Downe

Buildings and Land

Domesday Book Entry          Owners of Land 1873          Home to Colonies of Rare Native Bees 2013

Listed Buildings

Grade I – Buildings of outstanding architectural or historic interest

Church of St. Giles

Public Houses

Bell Inn

Public Houses Gallery

Crime and Legal Matters

Crime Reports 1700-1799

Robbery & Theft

Robbery on the London Road 1839          Robber’s 1716 Imber Burial 1856

Directories

Education

Mr. Tucker’s Academy 1830          Diocesan Board of Education Meeting 1874          New School Mistress 1900

Emigration and Migration

Strays Index

Employment and Business

Agriculture and Land

Gamekeepers Certificates 1807           Sale of Fir Trees 1847          Shepherds Prizes 1886

Apprentices

UK Register of Duties Paid for Apprenticed 1710-1811

Communications

British Postal Service Appointments 1737-1969

Community Services

Police

Wiltshire Constabulary 1858

Exhibitions

Warminster Industrial Exhibition 1869

Miscellaneous Documents

Non Conformity and Other Places of Worship

Baptist Chapel

Baptist Chapelyard Gallery

People and Parish Notables

People Gallery

Accidents

Accidental Death at Imber 1902

Balls, Dances and Social Events

Ball and Supper at Imber Manor 1821

Census Returns Transcripts

1851          1861          1871          1881          1891          1901

Elections and Polls

Family Notices

Family Notices 1850-1899          Family Notices 1900-1949          Life Events from Warminster Parish Magazine 1901          Life Events from Warminster Parish Magazine 1902

Personal Research Items

Tuck Family Research Burial Extracts – This item was donated by Ken Tuck and contains entries that may or may not relate to the Tuck family however they have been published as such.  Many refer to Quaker burials found across the county

Wedding Reports

First Imber Wedding in 60 Years 2002

Poor Law, Charity and the Workhouse

Probate

Inquisitions Post Mortem of Lands Held

Christopher Polden 1626          William Tynbury 1632           James, Earl of Marlborough 1633          Henry, Earl of Marlborough 1638

Parishioners Wills

War, Conflict and Military Matters

War Memorials & Military Gallery          Imber Military Gallery

Imber has been owned by the Ministry of Defence since its evacuation during WWII. Residents and their descendants are still fighting for their right to return to their lands.

Boer War

Wounded – Frank Dean 1900           Jumble Sale for the Yeomanry Hospital 1900

WWI

Casualties

Harold Henry Kitley          Ernest Marsh          Arthur Edward Norris          Alfred Henry Pearce 1916

WWII

Friendly Fire Incident

On 13th April, 1942, six Royal Air Force Hawker Hurricanes from No. 175 Squadron R.A.F. & six Supermarine Spitfires from No. 234 R.A.F. were being used in a demonstration of tactical airpower at Imber. The event was a dress rehearsal for an upcoming visit by Winston Churchill. The demonstration involved the aircraft hitting mock armoured vehicles & tanks. The pilot of the 6th Hurricane mistakenly opened fire on a crowd of spectators, killing 25 and wounding 71. The pilot was killed around 10 weeks later when his plane was shot down over France on a night raid.

Friendly Fire Incident 1942          70th Anniversary Plaque of Friendly Fire Incident 2012           Memorial Unveiled 2012

Home Guard

Home Guards 1940-1944

Prisoners of War

Prisoner of War Camps in Wiltshire

Servicemen and Women

Servicemen & Families with 1st Wilts Regt. in South Africa 1911

Uncategorised Military Items

Imber Honours War Casualties 2003          

War Memorials

Diocese of Salisbury Memorial Book 1914-1918          Roll of Honour 1914-1918