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Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Heard the Imber Village was open to the public last weekend so decided to visit as only open to the public for a very limited time during the year.
Imber is an uninhabited village on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. The entire civilian population were given 47 days notice and evicted in 1943 to provide an exercise area for American troops preparing for the invasion of Europe during the Second World War. After the war, villagers were not allowed to return to their homes.
After the war the village was used extensively for training, particularly preparing soldiers for their duties in the urban environments of Northern Ireland. Several empty house-like buildings were constructed during the 1970s to aid training, and it is these, along with the church, Bell Inn and Imber Court which were 'open' to see as training continues to some degree at Imber.
Interestingly the chuch continues to hold services on a very small number of days during the year, including Christmas
Warning Sign - Imber Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Nags Head Cottages - Formerly Nags Head Pub, Imber Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Urban Warfare Training Area - Imber Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
St Giles Church, Imber Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Imber Court - Imber Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Simulated Belfast Council Houses - Imber Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
The Bell Pub - Imber Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
After visiting the village a quick trip onto Salisbury Plain - tank hulks littered all over the place as targets
Tank Hulk - near Imber Village, Salisbury Plain by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Tank Hulks - near Imber Village, Salisbury Plain by Darren Currie, on Flickr
From there over to Copehill Down Village. Access here is restricted - found it by driving down a track off of one of the tank crossings on Salisbury Plain about 2 miles off the road. Easy to walk around and have a look (if anybody goes watch for the Red Flags flying). Even managed to find a Lynx and an old locomotive there
Copehill Down was built in the late 1980s to simulate an East German village for FIBUA (Fighting In Built Up Areas) Training. In recent years the facility has been expanded to include a shanty town made up of cargo containers stacked and laid out in rows of tightly packed streets, to provide an additional training area that more closely resembles the Army's operational theatres in Iraq & Afghanistan. Copehill Down has now taken over alot of the training from Imber
Copehill Down 'FIBUA' Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Shanty Town & Police Station, Copehill Down Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Simulated East German Village, Copehill Down Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
FOB Pegish West, Copehill Down Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
New Church Tower, Copehill Down Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Sangar, Copehill Down Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Old Lynx Helicopter, Copehill Down Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Old locomotive, Copehill Down Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Hope you found of some interest - worth a look if you are in the area
Cheers
Darren
Imber is an uninhabited village on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire. The entire civilian population were given 47 days notice and evicted in 1943 to provide an exercise area for American troops preparing for the invasion of Europe during the Second World War. After the war, villagers were not allowed to return to their homes.
After the war the village was used extensively for training, particularly preparing soldiers for their duties in the urban environments of Northern Ireland. Several empty house-like buildings were constructed during the 1970s to aid training, and it is these, along with the church, Bell Inn and Imber Court which were 'open' to see as training continues to some degree at Imber.
Interestingly the chuch continues to hold services on a very small number of days during the year, including Christmas
Warning Sign - Imber Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Nags Head Cottages - Formerly Nags Head Pub, Imber Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Urban Warfare Training Area - Imber Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
St Giles Church, Imber Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Imber Court - Imber Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Simulated Belfast Council Houses - Imber Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
The Bell Pub - Imber Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
After visiting the village a quick trip onto Salisbury Plain - tank hulks littered all over the place as targets
Tank Hulk - near Imber Village, Salisbury Plain by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Tank Hulks - near Imber Village, Salisbury Plain by Darren Currie, on Flickr
From there over to Copehill Down Village. Access here is restricted - found it by driving down a track off of one of the tank crossings on Salisbury Plain about 2 miles off the road. Easy to walk around and have a look (if anybody goes watch for the Red Flags flying). Even managed to find a Lynx and an old locomotive there
Copehill Down was built in the late 1980s to simulate an East German village for FIBUA (Fighting In Built Up Areas) Training. In recent years the facility has been expanded to include a shanty town made up of cargo containers stacked and laid out in rows of tightly packed streets, to provide an additional training area that more closely resembles the Army's operational theatres in Iraq & Afghanistan. Copehill Down has now taken over alot of the training from Imber
Copehill Down 'FIBUA' Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Shanty Town & Police Station, Copehill Down Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Simulated East German Village, Copehill Down Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
FOB Pegish West, Copehill Down Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
New Church Tower, Copehill Down Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Sangar, Copehill Down Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Old Lynx Helicopter, Copehill Down Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Old locomotive, Copehill Down Village by Darren Currie, on Flickr
Hope you found of some interest - worth a look if you are in the area
Cheers
Darren
- PeteHemsley
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Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Very interesting mate. We have 2 huge training set ups at Otterburn camp to the north of Newcastle. It's always worth a look around when the red flags are down!
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing
- deerhunter
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Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Brilliant post Darren, unfortunately cant get there now, daughter due to go in hosp any day so trip been cancelled.
Canon 5D Mk4 plus long lenses, and lots of hope!
GRIM REAPERS SUPPORTER
Website : http://www.wildflight.co.uk
GRIM REAPERS SUPPORTER
Website : http://www.wildflight.co.uk
Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
wow, looks well worth a visit and interesting. Great pictures and many thanks for posting.
Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Very interesting post Darren, good pictures, especially with a bit of information and history contained in it.
Trev
Trev
Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Cheers for the responses guys - much appreciated. Hope you found of interest
Darren
Darren
Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Hi Darren
Nice set , interesting era , got to feel sorry for the residents , who were promised they could return afterwards only to be told they couldnt , thought they were helping the "war effort" ...!! Look forward to a GC report ??
Cheers
Paul
Nice set , interesting era , got to feel sorry for the residents , who were promised they could return afterwards only to be told they couldnt , thought they were helping the "war effort" ...!! Look forward to a GC report ??
Cheers
Paul
- Frank the Dog
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Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Fascinating post, really interesting. Good to see some decent photos with an useful narrative.
Thanks for sharing these Darren.
Thanks for sharing these Darren.
Paddle faster................. I hear banjos !
Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Thanks for the additional comments Paul & Phil
Cheers
Darren
Now there's a thought Paul! Might try and coble something together in the next couple of weeks after this coming weekend
Cheers
Darren
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Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Nice set of images Darren, I use to be a frequent visitor to the Plain stayed with friends at West Lavington. I use to park up by
Juliette and watch the armour trundling by. How is the Great Bustard doing?, has it adjusted to the plain. Frank.
Juliette and watch the armour trundling by. How is the Great Bustard doing?, has it adjusted to the plain. Frank.
- ChrisCwmbran
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Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Great shots Darren! Thanks for sharing them!
Did you take you know who there with you?
Did you take you know who there with you?
Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Thanks for the additional responses guys
Interestingly stopped in West Lavington on the way back for a bite to eat in the Churchill Arms in the village - can thoroughly recommend it - the food was great as was the service
Hope all is good
Darren
Frank - Not familiar with 'Juilette' I am afraid so not sure where you watched the armour from. Did not get to see any Bustards when we were there - probably scared away by the tanks etc but apparently doing well.AndrewBarclay wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 7:42 pmNice set of images Darren, I use to be a frequent visitor to the Plain stayed with friends at West Lavington. I use to park up by
Juliette and watch the armour trundling by. How is the Great Bustard doing?, has it adjusted to the plain. Frank.
Interestingly stopped in West Lavington on the way back for a bite to eat in the Churchill Arms in the village - can thoroughly recommend it - the food was great as was the service
Mate - No! A family day out only although I did receive a text asking to be picked up from Truro station and taken there but he did not want to go into the village and only look from outside (shades of RIAT)ChrisCwmbran wrote: ↑Fri Sep 07, 2018 9:48 pmGreat shots Darren! Thanks for sharing them!
Did you take you know who there with you?
Hope all is good
Darren
Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Seconded - have eaten there quite a few times and not been disappointed.
Cheers, Bob
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Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Hi Darren https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=julie ... 66&bih=631 Frank.Knife 04 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 08, 2018 11:24 amThanks for the additional responses guys
Frank - Not familiar with 'Juilette' I am afraid so not sure where you watched the armour from. Did not get to see any Bustards when we were there - probably scared away by the tanks etc but apparently doing well.AndrewBarclay wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 7:42 pmNice set of images Darren, I use to be a frequent visitor to the Plain stayed with friends at West Lavington. I use to park up by
Juliette and watch the armour trundling by. How is the Great Bustard doing?, has it adjusted to the plain. Frank.
Interestingly stopped in West Lavington on the way back for a bite to eat in the Churchill Arms in the village - can thoroughly recommend it - the food was great as was the service
Mate - No! A family day out only although I did receive a text asking to be picked up from Truro station and taken there but he did not want to go into the village and only look from outside (shades of RIAT)ChrisCwmbran wrote: ↑Fri Sep 07, 2018 9:48 pmGreat shots Darren! Thanks for sharing them!
Did you take you know who there with you?
Hope all is good
Darren
-
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Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Juliette is the one with the three armoured vehs and landrover it is was a public road and when in use a soldier wouldAndrewBarclay wrote: ↑Sat Sep 08, 2018 4:09 pmHi Darren https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=julie ... 66&bih=631Knife 04 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 08, 2018 11:24 amThanks for the additional responses guys
Frank - Not familiar with 'Juilette' I am afraid so not sure where you watched the armour from. Did not get to see any Bustards when we were there - probably scared away by the tanks etc but apparently doing well.AndrewBarclay wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 7:42 pmNice set of images Darren, I use to be a frequent visitor to the Plain stayed with friends at West Lavington. I use to park up by
Juliette and watch the armour trundling by. How is the Great Bustard doing?, has it adjusted to the plain. Frank.
Interestingly stopped in West Lavington on the way back for a bite to eat in the Churchill Arms in the village - can thoroughly recommend it - the food was great as was the service
Mate - No! A family day out only although I did receive a text asking to be picked up from Truro station and taken there but he did not want to go into the village and only look from outside (shades of RIAT)ChrisCwmbran wrote: ↑Fri Sep 07, 2018 9:48 pmGreat shots Darren! Thanks for sharing them!
Did you take you know who there with you?
Hope all is good
Darren
direct the civvy trafiic to stop.
Re: Imber & Copehill Down Villages
Thanks Frank - I know exactly where you are now - on the right when coming out of Tilshead village! At that cross roads (Jiliette) I took the left turn at the tank crossing and followed the track to Copehill Down (as you turn left you can see it on the horizon). Would advise probably a 4x4 for it but it is 'doable' in a car (company car made it OK )AndrewBarclay wrote: ↑Sat Sep 08, 2018 4:09 pmHi Darren https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=julie ... 66&bih=631 Frank.Knife 04 wrote: ↑Sat Sep 08, 2018 11:24 amThanks for the additional responses guys
Frank - Not familiar with 'Juilette' I am afraid so not sure where you watched the armour from. Did not get to see any Bustards when we were there - probably scared away by the tanks etc but apparently doing well.AndrewBarclay wrote: ↑Thu Sep 06, 2018 7:42 pmNice set of images Darren, I use to be a frequent visitor to the Plain stayed with friends at West Lavington. I use to park up by
Juliette and watch the armour trundling by. How is the Great Bustard doing?, has it adjusted to the plain. Frank.
Interestingly stopped in West Lavington on the way back for a bite to eat in the Churchill Arms in the village - can thoroughly recommend it - the food was great as was the service
Mate - No! A family day out only although I did receive a text asking to be picked up from Truro station and taken there but he did not want to go into the village and only look from outside (shades of RIAT)ChrisCwmbran wrote: ↑Fri Sep 07, 2018 9:48 pmGreat shots Darren! Thanks for sharing them!
Did you take you know who there with you?
Hope all is good
Darren
Darren
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