The Spectator

Barometer: How many ghost towns are there in Britain?

Abandoned villages, expendable ministers, power profits

The soon-to-be-lost village of Imber in 1394. Photo by William Vanderson/Fox Photos/Getty Images 
issue 12 October 2013

Lost property

The second-to-last surviving resident of St Kilda — a small archipelago 40 miles off the Outer Hebrides which was abandoned in 1930 — has died. There are more than 4,000 abandoned settlements in Britain:
Althorp Medieval village on the Althorp estate, Northamptonshire, removed by the Catesby family in the early 16th century to make way for sheep pasture
Imber Isolated village on Wiltshire downs which was evacuated and added to the adjoining military range in 1943 to train US troops. The buildings survive, including a mock housing estate built to simulate conditions in Northern Ireland
Rattray Ancient town in Aberdeenshire created Royal Burgh by Mary, Queen of Scots in 1563 but abandoned after sand dunes cut off its harbour in 1720
Cratendune Church and settlement in Cambridgeshire established in 607 and destroyed around 650. Mentioned in Anglo-Saxon texts but remains still missing



In and out

David Cameron had a modest reshuffle, sacking only one cabinet minister.

Get Britain's best politics newsletters

Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Comments

Join the debate for just £1 a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in