Latest news with #WarOffice
Daily Mirror
21-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
'I visited UK 'ghost village' frozen in time - eerie warning signs made me go cold'
The Dorset village of Tyneham has been frozen in time since 1943 after its residents were forced to leave with the promise of returning once World War II was over, but this was never upheld Just a short drive away from one of the UK's most popular tourist attractions lies a village frozen in time that has now been turned into a living museum with abandoned buildings and overgrown fields, offering a glimpse into 20th-century rural England. Tyneham is quietly nestled within the Ministry of Defence's Lulworth Ranges in Dorset, with the village remaining largely untouched since its residents were ordered to leave in December 1943 to make way for military training during World War II. Originally a medieval settlement, Tyneham possesses roots stretching back to the Domesday Survey of 1086. Its small but tight-knit community lived in modest stone cottages and farmed the chalkland fields for generations, sustaining a subsistence way of life. But in 1943, the War Office requisitioned some 8,000 acres of land in Dorset, including Tyneham, for military training. Villagers were given notices to leave, and their lives were uprooted. They were promised they could return once wartime needs ended - a promise that was never honoured. It's thought around 250 people were forced out. Though it remains owned by the Ministry of Defence and is part of the Lulworth Ranges, it is open to the public free of charge on a schedule. Driving towards the remote area six-miles from Lulworth Cove, it's clear to see just how abandoned the site has become. Overgrown weeds and trees line the narrow countryside lanes, with a steep climb up the hilly Jurassic coastline to reach the remote area. Arriving at the village, there is a car park and small mobile cafe that serves as the only reminder of modern-day living. Today, the village remains largely as it was left. Stone cottages stand silently with remnants of the homes remaining. Fireplaces can be seen, as well as window frames that have been left to rot. Standing inside the homes, it's hard to imagine families once lived here, forced to leave as the war raged on. The village school, built in 1856, once echoed with the laughter of children, and the church of St Mary's - dating to the 14th century - stood at the heart of the sleepy settlement. In England, school attendance was not compulsory until 1880 and it always remained difficult to enforce in remote areas like Tyneham, where children were required to help at home. Tyneham School was managed by the Bond family and their curate who lived in the Rectory nearby. This meant studying scripture was strict for students, and teachers were hot on discipline, with no talking in the classroom allowed. The aim was to produce 'good citizens' who would go on to give devoted service to their country and the church. After the area was evacuated in December 1943, much of the classroom remained eerily intact, including children's exercise books which can be seen today with markings from their teachers. Pegs line the tiny building, with names like Evelyn Longman and Frederick Knight offering a glimpse into the children who once lined the corridors. In 1982, almost 40 years after the school was left to rot behind boarded up windows, increased public access to the Army Ranges was offered and former pupils revisited their childhood school. A quote from Helen, given in 1993 aged 92, is on display in the classroom, giving visitors an idea of what life was like inside the school. She said: "We all sat at long benches and the little ones sat on the stage behind the red velvet curtains. It was a bit of a squash, sometimes there were over 60 of us, until the Coastguard Station at Worbarrow closed in 1911 and then lots left." Helen helped to recreate the schoolroom which is now open to the public. Just opposite lies the church, which still stands thanks to its sturdy stone structure. The stained glass windows represent traditional teachings from the Bible, which was widely studied in Tyneham. The families left assuming they would return, which sadly never happened. There's a sombre feel to the village, as tourists walk around looking at what was once someone's home and livelihood. Villagers were forced to sell their livestock, personal belongings and businesses when they left. And despite the order to vacate, they were not offered a substantial sum. They were compensated for the loss of their gardens and crops, but not for the loss of their homes or the village itself. It's now largely been taken over by nature, with plenty of wildflowers and trees growing amongst the buildings. An old telephone box also remains, with a sign inside urging users to "be brief" as it's "on warwork" There's also a notice hammered into a telephone pole warning locals that those throwing stones at the telegram, "will be prosecuted". When the residents left the village, they left a notice on the church door reading: "Please treat the church and houses with care. We have given up our homes where many of us have lived for generations to help win the war to keep men free. We will return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly." Tyneham's last known resident, Peter Wellman, who was born and brought up in the village, died aged 100 in May. He made his final visit to the village in 2024. His daughter told the Dorset View: "Dad always loved Tyneham and he visited regularly until he had a fall a few years ago. He was delighted when we took him back last year. "He loved talking to people there and telling them about the village and what life was like. He moved out of Tyneham before the war due to work, but not far away. Then in 1943, everyone was forced out." The MoD still leases the land but allows public access on weekends and holidays. As I walked the narrow lanes, it seemed somewhat peaceful, with gunfire halted over certain days. There are warning signs all around the village to "keep out" of military designated zones. Historic plaques now line the village route, with the remains of the Post Office also on display, as well as some of the more prosperous homes like the The Rectory. There is also a very secluded beach just a 20 minute walk away, with more remnants of homes on view that would have once had impressive views across the English Channel. And though it was thriving with tourists, it also had a somewhat unsettling silence. There is a gate into the village that is locked at certain times, depending on military activity. But thanks to its former residents and their families, part of it has been returned to the public and now serves as an important reminder into British history.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Council seeks ideas as Beaumanor Hall expected to make £480k loss
A council is seeking ideas to reduce the costs of a historic Leicestershire venue, which is expected to make a £480,000 loss this Hall - built between 1842 and 1854 in Woodhouse - was purchased by Leicestershire County Council in 1974 and has been used as a venue for weddings and other Grade II listed building has never operated at a profit, but the authority said it now wanted to improve the financial position "given growing pressure on the council's finances". A plan to discuss the future options for the venue with local schools, residents, businesses and other groups, is due to be discussed at a cabinet meeting. Helen Butler, cabinet member for resources, said: "The site has a lot of potential. It's currently operating at a loss to the taxpayer, and that's why we want to open up the conversation on what we could do differently." 'Vital council funds' Beaumanor Hall - which was requisitioned by the War Office as a secret listening station to intercept encrypted enemy signals - had to close for ten weeks in April due to structural concerns with the chimneys of the main building. It has since reopened after initial that temporary closure, the site was forecast to make a loss of £449,000, according to a council report, but that figure is now estimated to be more than £480, council is proposing an eight-week consultation from August, involving schools, other customers, the general public and specialist operators within the were considered a "key customer" of the hall, with about 16,000 children using the site each year - the majority for residential venue also employs about 121 staff members who would also be consulted on its future. Butler added: "We deliberately haven't set out any options at this stage so that this can be genuinely open engagement. "It's about looking at what's possible and how we can get to a point where vital council funds don't need to be spent on running the hall."The plan will be discussed at a cabinet meeting on 15 July.
Forbes
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Secrets And Scones: A Spy Themed Afternoon Tea Launched In London
A watch you can eat. Raffles London London doesn't exactly have a tea shortage. You can sit in Mayfair with a £12 cup of something floral, eat cucumber sandwiches in Belgravia, or sip Earl Grey under a chandelier that could concuss a small child if it ever came loose. That's all fine. Predictable, even. But now? There's a tea service in town that's a bit more… covert. Raffles London, which recently opened in the old War Office building (yes, that one), is now hosting an afternoon tea called Secrets & Spies. And before you roll your eyes—no, it's not a costume party. Nobody's handing out trench coats. You don't need a code word. It's actually very restrained, and more to the point: it's really good. The War Office, for anyone who missed that particular history class, was where Churchill worked, where MI9 was born, and where a fair number of young intelligence officers were quietly ushered in, briefed, and then sent off to play dangerous games in occupied Europe. It's heavy stuff. And now, weirdly but wonderfully, it's where you can get scones. The tea's held in The Drawing Room, which is all velvet and quiet lighting—basically what you'd expect if you imagined a very rich relative's living room and then doubled the ceilings. You sit down, you're handed a menu, and if you squint just slightly, you can almost hear old war secrets still echoing in the corners. Let's talk about the food. It's themed, yes, but not obnoxiously so. The standout is a dessert called Time to Spy, a blackcurrant-and-dark-chocolate cake that looks like a pocket watch—more specifically, like the kind spies carried in the 1940s. You almost don't want to eat it. But then you do. Other sweets are inspired by real women who served in the Special Operations Executive during World War II. Noor Inayat Khan. Odette Sansom. Violette Szabo. These aren't made-up characters—they were real, brave, terrifyingly cool women who worked behind enemy lines and often didn't come back. Each dessert nods to one of them through flavor or design. It's subtle, not sentimental. If you catch the references, great. If you don't, you'll still get a really nice tart out of it. The savory food leans traditional but with a few small changes that make it feel more thoughtful. The chicken sandwich, made with high-quality poultry, is paired with parmesan instead of the usual mayonnaise, which keeps it lighter while still adding flavor. The smoked salmon has been cured with beetroot, and it's served with lemon confit and horseradish cream, which adds a bit of brightness without overpowering the other flavors on the plate. Cucumber sandwiches are there too, of course, but in this case, they're layered on rye bread and softened with cream cheese and a little mint, which makes them more refreshing than expected. The ham is honey-roasted and served with caraway bread and a slightly tangy spread that complements the richness of the meat. Even the egg sandwich has been given a bit more care, using Arlington eggs and a grain mustard that adds texture and just enough bite to make it interesting without complicating it. Rather than overwhelming you with too many choices, the tea selection offers a carefully curated range that has been thoughtfully chosen. The house blend, created especially for The OWO, combines black tea with a touch of rose petal for a floral note that doesn't feel overly sweet or perfumed. There's also a Churchill blend, which leans toward a smoky profile, thanks to the lapsang, and includes a hint of ginger to add warmth. In addition to those, you'll find familiar names like Darjeeling and Earl Grey—nothing surprising, but all of it well prepared and served with quiet confidence. What really gives the whole experience its character, though, is the room itself. The Drawing Room still carries the feel of its former life as part of the War Office, not through obvious decoration or forced storytelling, but in the quiet way the space holds its history. You notice it in the layout, in the weight of the architecture, and in the small moments—like sipping tea while sitting just a few feet from where military briefings once took place. Will you leave changed? Probably not. But you'll leave charmed. And maybe—just maybe—you'll look over your shoulder as you walk out, half-expecting to spot a trench-coated figure watching from the corner. Because in this room, secrets aren't just part of the décor. They're baked right in.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Honoring the U.S. Army: Lebanon to celebrate 250th commemoration
LEBANON — An anniversary commemoration of the founding of the United States Army will be held at the War Office in Lebanon this weekend. The commemoration will be held Saturday at the War Office, 149 West Town Street, Lebanon. The First Congregational Church bells, designed by Colonel John Trumbull, painter of the American Revolution, will ring 13 times for the 13 American colonies at 1 p.m. to start the ceremony. The ceremony is open to the public and is being held by the Sons of the American Revolution. There will also be a National SAR special grave marking ceremony at the tomb of General George Washington, as Commander-in-Chief, at Mount Vernon. 'It's a very important day in U.S. history,' said Todd Gerlander, chairman of the CTSSAR Historic Sites & Celebrations-America 250 Committee. 'This was the start of the United States Army, with the creation of the Continental Army on June 14, 1775.' The day after, General George Washington was appointed commander-in-chief. The Continental Army would go on to defeat the British during the American Revolution. 'All of our 250th anniversary celebrations are a little bit different, depending on the historical event we're commemorating,' Gerlander said. 'We will have a speaker on the Continental Army (he will also be dressed as a Continental soldier), and we will have a modern U.S. Army soldier to compare and contrast.' There will also be a display of the Continental soldiers inside the war office. As June 14 also marks Flag Day, an outdoor flag display will be on display, weather permitting.
Daily Mirror
07-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Abandoned wartime village frozen in time where empty terrace houses rot
The whole village of Tyneham in Dorset was evacuated during the World War II, but today the abandoned village still remains and visitors can explore its deserted street and the memories left behind Tucked away on the Dorset coast lies a village where time stopped in 1943 and never restarted. Tyneham in Dorset was evacuated during World War II in December 1943, when the War Office took over the land to make space for Army training. Around 225 people were told to pack up and leave their homes within days. The residents believed it would only be temporary and they would return one day. Residents left a note on the church door reading - "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.' Despite the war ending in 1945, the residents were never allowed to reclaim their homes, and Tyneham remained under Army control - and it still is. The village became part of a British Army training site, used to test tanks and weapons. To this day, it's owned by the Ministry of Defence and forms part of the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Gunnery School. However Tyneham isn't the only local village absorbed into a Army training ground; Worbarrow Bay and Lulworth ranges are grounds that remain active to this day. The land is still used for the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Gunnery School, a live fire training school - which is why the area is only open to the public on selected weekends and bank holidays. When they allow visitors to explore what remains of the village, it's like stepping back in time. Although many of the buildings have crumbled, there are still preserved fragments of Tyneham's past. The old schoolhouse and church have been carefully restored and today holds exhibitions about the people who once lived there with photos and letters. A row of terraced cottages, known as The Row, still stands near the church. Some buildings have crumbled, but others remain hauntingly still - like they're waiting for their owners to come home. There's also a restored farm area with picnic benches, surrounded by broken walls and fading signs of village life. Tyneham is often called 'Dorset's lost village', and it's easy to see why. It's quiet, eerie, and frozen in the past - a snapshot of a community that vanished almost overnight. Tyneham is more than a village lost to war. It's a time capsule - a stark reminder of the sacrifices of war and what's left behind when history moves on without you. For those planning a visit, it's best to check the opening times online. The village, nearby Worbarrow Bay and the Lulworth Ranges are all part of a live military zone. The exact dates are listed on the Government website. If you're after a day out that's a little different and don't mind a few goosebumps - Tyneham offers a rare glimpse into wartime Britain, frozen in time. Although visitors often say it gives them goosebumps, especially when reading notes left behind by children or seeing the school's original blackboard.
