The final remaining previous inhabitant of the deserted village of Tyneham in Dorset passed away at the age of 100.
Last year, Peter Wellman paid his final visit to the deserted seaside village where he spent his childhood and grew up.
The village that sacrificed itself for England was emptied out just prior to this event.
Christmas
In 1943, the structures were built to allow soldiers to train for house-to-house combat maneuvers before D-Day.
Approximately 250 individuals from Tyneham and the surrounding farm areas were compelled to leave their homes. Even though they were assured that they would be able to come back following the conflict, they were never permitted to return.
The property remains under the ownership of the Ministry of Defence, permitting visitors to explore the village for 160 days annually.
The institution where Mr. Wellman studied and the church he was required to attend have both been renovated, yet the remainder continues to deteriorate over time.
Mr Wellman, born in Tyneham in 1924, died of pneumonia on April 29 in Swanage, which is close to where he grew up as a child.
Lynne, his daughter, mentioned: “My dad always had a deep affection for Tyneham, and he would visit frequently until he experienced a fall some years back. He felt immense joy when we brought him there again last year.”
‘He enjoyed conversing with folks there and sharing stories about the village and their way of life.’
He left Tyneham prior to the war for job reasons, though he didn’t go too far. However, in 1943 everybody was compelled to leave.
‘Happily residing in Swanage, he passed away calmly during slumber following a battle with pneumonia.’
During his final trip to Tyneham, Mr Wellman reminisced about his youth: “There was no electricity, no main gas supply, and no running water—we had to draw it from a source close to the church. That spot still has a faucet.”
I recall visiting the beach where we used to fish, and mackerel was commonly what we caught. We were content until we were relocated.
Mr. Wellman, with his family ties to Tyneham spanning numerous generations and whose ancestor served as the shepherd, went to the quaint one-classroom schoolhouse.
The educational institution shut down in 1932 because of decreasing student enrollment. Today, it has been transformed into a museum where guests can explore the region’s past.
The school’s shutdown led to Mr Wellman spending several years commuting via bus to another institution until he ultimately left Tynesham permanently.
When he was 14, he began working at a nearby farm and continued his employment there for 36 years. Afterward, he worked in the clay sector until his retirement.
A lot of the villagers lived lengthy lives, a point attributed by Mr. Wellman to their way of life.
He stated, “The key element is clean air along with diligent effort carried out with a positive spirit and a satisfied mindset. This is what leads to a fulfilling life.”
In 1943, the villagers received only one month’s notice informing them that they needed to depart and would be resettled in another location.
On Sunday, Helen Taylor, who teaches at the Sunday school, attached a swiftly-written note to the church door. It stated: “Kindly be gentle with the church and the surrounding homes.”
‘We have left behind the houses where numerous among us resided for generations to contribute to winning the war and maintaining freedom for all.’
We will come back someday to express our gratitude for your kind treatment of the village.
As an accommodating gesture, villagers who previously resided there were permitted to return for burial in the churchyard.
The final individual of this kind was Dorothy Grace Grant, who died in 2015.
The church reopened in 1973.
Mr Wellman mentioned that he had no regrets about departing from the village as it offered minimal opportunities for young individuals; however, he wished that the former inhabitants could come back.
He stated: “It was communicated to them that they had the option to return, yet they were never permitted to do so.”
Mr Wellman remembered witnessing a dogfight overhead while tending to his work in the fields during the war, and he waved at the Spitfire pilot who shot down an opposing aircraft.
The village belonged to the Bond family, who resided in the majestic Tyneham House, which has largely disappeared today.
They resisted modernization, which means that life in the village in 1943 closely resembled how it had been about a hundred years prior.
Following a campaign initiated by the late Dorset historian Rodney Legg to permit residents’ return, the Ministry of Defence allowed visitors access to what remained in 1975. Since then, it has grown into an increasingly favored destination for day-trippers and tourists alike.
The authorization was granted two years following an incident where former residents, identifying themselves as the 1943 Committee, breached the barbed wire barriers and briefly reopened the old post office for about ten minutes before being halted by guards.
Mr Wellman was likewise the final individual to converse using the genuine Tyneham Valley dialect, characterized by its deep, smooth Dorset accent.
A widower had two children, along with two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.
Elise Neville from James Smith Funeral Directors, which is part of the Douch Family Funeral Group and handling the arrangements, stated: “With Peter passing away, we lose the final connection to the village of Tyneham, along with an important chapter of history.”
‘There are numerous small communities within and surrounding the Isle of Purbeck where families trace their lineage through many generations, and Peter belongs to this group. Arranging Peter’s funeral is indeed a significant honor.’
The funeral for him will be held in Corfe Castle on May 22.
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