On holiday in Dorset this week, walked along the coast from Lulworth Cove to Tyneham, the village 'adopted' by the military in 1943. The tenants were given a week to pack up and leave but were promised they would be allowed back once the war was over. Successive governments have reneged on this.
However, since the 1970s there has been an increase in access and moves to preserve the buildings. Most are roofless, like the gardener's house here. The church in the background is in good condition.
The farm outbuildings have been worked on to protect them and the implements that remain. The Fordson Major has a roof over its head.
In the well-preserved school building there is a map of the fields with their traditional names: Cowleaze, the Glebe, Starveall.
You can find details about Tyneham's opening times here.
Meanwhile, not far inland, west of the firing range and the clamour of Bestival, today's harvest was under way.
We watched the New Holland BB9060 Rotor Cutter making what looked to be heavy work big-baling straw, powered by an MF 7495.
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