After signing up as members on the National Trust (along with Pam & Craig), we decided that it was long overdue to use our memberships! The chosen destination was Dorset…
Our first stop was , a village lost in time, then we visited Corfe Castle, Durdle Door and the impressive Tank Museum.
Tyneham
The village and 7,500 acres (30 km²) of surrounding heathland and chalk downland around the Purbeck Hills, were commandeered just beforeChristmas 1943 by the then War Office (now Ministry of Defence) for use as firing ranges for training troops. 252 people were displaced, the last person leaving a notice on the church door:
“Please treat the church and houses with care; we have given up our homes where many of us lived for generations to help win the war to keep men free. We shall return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly.”
This measure was supposed to be temporary for the duration of World War II, but in 1948 the Army placed a compulsory purchase order on the land and it has remained in use for military training ever since. In 1975, after complaints from tourists and locals, the Ministry of Defence began opening the village and footpaths across the ranges at weekends and throughout August.
