Imber and Edington

An even slower start today and we had lunch before setting off on a shorter drive than yesterday, to Imber village in the middle of Salisbury Plain.

At one time, Imber was a typical small farming village - five farms as well as the manor house along with a parish church and even a Baptist Chapel. However, the Plain gradually developed as an important military training area with the War Department gradually buying up much of the land and many of the houses. Apart from Imber, there were very few other dwellings.

As the D Day landings were being planned, the need for a large space for training with the American forces was needed and the whole of the village was compulsory purchased. Although there was originally a possibility that it would be returned after the war, the difficulty in clearing the area from explosive material meant that it remains military property and is still well used for many training exercises.

Imber Church

However, the public, normally excluded, can visit for a few days after Christmas and the Churches Preservation Trust, who look after the church, open it as well.

 

 

We parked and walked up to the church which was looking especially well in the sunshine with a cloudless bright blue sky as background.

No Go to Imber Court Farm!

Afterwards we wandered a little further along the road - off road excursions are definitely not advised! - passing the buildings built during the war for training activities. Almost all of the original village buildings have now been demolished although the main house still stands, albeit behind a high wall!

Imber Court

Training Village

We continued on the access road to the far side of the Plain. As we headed back to Devizes, a wrong turning took us through Edington. We spotted a large church and opted to stop and find out more. Turned out to be Edington Priory Church which accounts for its unusual size. Internally, it is divided by a Victorian screen with the chancel area almost a large as most parish churches. When Imber parish was finally closed in the late 1990's, it was combined with Edington parish.

Edington Priory Church

Each year a special music festival is held in the church which draws some of the best church singers and musicians to perfom in the context of liturgies. The church is also used for many other concerts and dramatic productions, including a jazz concert and a Murder Mystery!

Inside Edington Priory Church

The Music Festival decided that they wanted to have a better quality organ and offered a new Harrison and Harrison instrument which is to be installed shortly so that it can be used in the 2014 festival in August. The former organ is to be dismantled and transferred to a music college in Tallin.

Edington Priory

Alongside the church is the former Priory house, long since converted to a private dwelling.