HiRoma,

Tyneham was a living village until 1943 when the government of the time served notice of eviction on the residents and the land owner. This is really close to the beach and it is similar to the beaches at normandy so the land was commondered to practice for the d day landings and the houses were used to shelter the soldiers.

Residents were given two weeks notice and were paid a compensation equivalent to the value of their property. As the residents were renting or employees of the estate they didn't get any more than the value of what was growing in their gardens as they didn't own their houses. Hard to believe something like that would be done by a government in such recent times.

After the war there was talk of allowing them to return but it never happened and the place fell into disrepair. The church and old schoolhouse have been restored and it draws a lot of local visitors during the summer. It's still on MOD land so you can only visit during the weekend as the whole area is a shooting range for tanks. Our very own princes Wills and Harry both trained down here.

Hope that fills you in a bit. I read it all on a sign :o)

Regards

D