Imber village population: 0
This virtual cache is situated in Imber Village, which is inside a military range (danger area), governed by the Imber Range Bylaws. The Bylaws state that there is no unauthorised access into the area at any time; this regulation always is in force, but when red warning flags are flying there is a real danger from live fire training.
Imber village is in the centre of the Army training ground on Imber Range, Salisbury Plain. The village was a community until 1943 when the Army took it over as a training ground. Originally the residents were told that they would be allowed to return after the war but this was never permitted. There is now little left of the original village apart from the church which is the only part of the village out of bounds to training.
More details of the village are here.
When the routes to Imber are to be opened, normally around Easter, August and Christmas, notice is given in local media (newspapers / radio). It is also possible to phone a Defence Estates answering machine (01980 674763), updated weekly, which gives dates and times when access is permitted to the military danger areas on Salisbury Plain; listen for "Imber Ranges" NOT "Larkhill Artillery Range".
The routes, when open, run from GORE CROSS (SU00925096) through IMBER VILLAGE to WARMINSTER (ST88024514). It should be noted that there is no access permitted, off the carriageway in Imber Village, except as described below. The MoD report that the speed limit for roads on the Salisbury Plain is 30mph.
There are large red signs at the edge of the danger area which state if the roads are open or closed, do not proceed if the signs say "Roads Closed". Once inside the danger area, it is not permitted to walk or drive off the carriageways; there are signs every 100 metres or so warning of this. This restriction also applies in Imber Village unless the paths to the Church or the Baptist Graveyard are open; if these paths are open they will be clearly signed and marked, do not stray off them.
A BBC article about the church is here.
The Imber church website including planned access information is here. When the church is open, volunteers usually have drinks, snacks and other things on sale in support of the maintenance of the church (which is not maintained by the MoD). There are usually portable toilets outside the church.
In order to claim this virtual cache, TAKE A PAPER OR ELECTRONIC COPY OF THESE QUESTIONS (there is no mobile phone signal in the village), travel to the coordinates and
1. WITHOUT LEAVING THE ROAD look up at the end of the building which has a family crest where some letters and a date are visible. Message these letters or the date to me via my profile above.
2. Photograph the buildings or church including you and/or your GPS or you and post this photo in your log. DO NOT POST A PHOTOGRAPH OF THE ANSWER.
Under no circumstances should you post the answers in your log or post photographs of the answer. You must physically visit this cache in order to log it, please do not abuse this requirement (I regret that I will have to delete logs that do not meet the above requirements).
Please check out the Geocaching Association of Great Britain offering support for Geocachers in GB.
You may be interested to visit the other village taken over by the military in 1943, which was Tyneham in Dorset (between Wareham and Swanage). We enjoyed our visit there and I would recommend it. It is open on most weekends throughout the year and also weekdays during many school holiday periods. However, it is also closed for periods so check before travelling. For more information, check out one of the Virtual caches at Tyneham: GCMDWK.