MORE than 3,700 people have taken the opportunity over Christmas and the New Year to visit the abandoned village of Imber on Salisbury Plain near Warminster.

Monday (January 1) was their last chance to visit the historic St Giles Church before it closes. It will open again at Easter.

The 13th century church has been open to visitors between 11am and 4pm daily since Friday, December 29.

Neil Skelton, custodian of the Grade I listed St Giles Church at Imber for The Churches Conservation Trust, was “delighted” with the number of visitors and the amounts raised from the open days. 

Wiltshire Times: Neil Skelton, custodian of St Giles Church, was delighted with the funds raised from the open days. Photo: Trevor Porter 70473-8Neil Skelton, custodian of St Giles Church, was delighted with the funds raised from the open days. Photo: Trevor Porter 70473-8 (Image: Trevor Porter)

He said: "We had 600 people each day on Friday and Saturday, 1,000 on Sunday and 1,500 on Monday.

"They just kept coming and kept the church cafe busy all day. We sold a lot of merchandise and books."

The funds raised go towards essential repairs and maintenance of the country's historic churches.

The visitors on Saturday (December 30) included 41 Citroen 2CV owners from all over the country, including Cornwall, the Midlands, Norfolk and Wales.

Wiltshire Times: Warminster’s Gary Dicks, who organised the 2CV run at Imber with fellow entrants lined up behind him. Photo: Trevor Porter 70473-1Warminster’s Gary Dicks, who organised the 2CV run at Imber with fellow entrants lined up behind him. Photo: Trevor Porter 70473-1 (Image: Trevor Porter)

They were taking part in the annual ‘Raid Imber’ Citroen 2CV rally organised by enthusiast Gary Dicks from Warminster.

He said: “It is something that we do every year. I think this year is about the 15th year and we never know how many people are going to turn up.

“This year we had 41 2CVs and 65 people. We met up in the village and then went to The Duke at Bratton for lunch.”

Visitors included Andy and Carol Jackson, who were spotted chatting to David Meaden who has ancestors that once lived at Imber.

Wiltshire Times: Visitors Andy and Carol Jackson look toward the 13th century Grade 1 listed St Giles Church as they chat to David Meaden (pictured centre) who has ancestors that once lived at Imber. Photo: Trevor Porter 70473-11Visitors Andy and Carol Jackson look toward the 13th century Grade 1 listed St Giles Church as they chat to David Meaden (pictured centre) who has ancestors that once lived at Imber. Photo: Trevor Porter 70473-11 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Cartol, 60, and Andy, 64, come from Melksham, and the trip to Imber was their first visit to the village.

“I was a little bit disappointed there was not more to see, but the displays in the church on the village history were very interesting,” she said.

The village was evacuated in November 1943 to aid the training of American soldiers for the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, in June 1944.

Residents had hoped to return once the Second World War was over but the village remained an army training ground and is still deserted to this day.

Wiltshire Times: Building erected to train troops at Imber Village overlooked by St Giles Church. Photo: Trevor Porter 70473-4Building erected to train troops at Imber Village overlooked by St Giles Church. Photo: Trevor Porter 70473-4 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The village is only open to visitors several times a year, including Easter, August and between Christmas and the New Year.

In a message on the church website, it says: “We expect to be open to visitors over the Easter Weekend 2024.  Arrangements are not yet confirmed so, please keep looking here.

“Further open days and events in 2024 will be posted here as they are confirmed.”

This year’s open days at Imber are April 7-10, and the annual Imber Bus Day for charity is on August 19 2024.