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Tyneham - the ghost village - and its K1 ressurected

Started by gpo706, March 01, 2014, 06:06:53 AM

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gpo706

"now this should take five minutes, where's me screwdriver went now..?"

twocvbloke

It reminds me of Wycoller just outside of Colne in Lancashire, though today the village is occupied and fully restored, it used to be pretty much a ghost village too, it was used as the village in The Railway Children, though it had been left long before any GPO telephones made their way in... :)

Reading about the original K1 in that village being destroyed though is sad, as the replacement may look similar, but it's not the same one, it's like crashing a car, then replacing it with a mostly similar one, but it's not the same, and you notice the differences... :-\

As for the village itself though, I wonder if the families who owned the properties originally still have rights to the houses, assuming the MOD releases them? It'd nice to have it returned to being a proper, living village owned by the descendants of those displaced by the military... :)

Mr. Bones

Thanks for posting this!

     It is a most interesting read, as I am avidly, rabidly a scholar for all things WWII-related, as well as the telephony tie-in.

     My Da', and most of our little town's grownup males were WWII Vets, and I've had the distinct privilege of hearing 1000's of hours of firsthand experiences, seeing / handling their letters, personal papers, medals, uniforms, weapons, souvenirs, manuals, everything imaginable, and then some!

     I wish they had more detailed pictures of the renovated kiosk, especially the notices and such that were installed inside. Anybody been there? Going there? I'll gladly provide the digital film for you to document the kiosk!! ;D

Best regards!
Sláinte!
   Mr. Bones
      Rubricollis Ferus

david@london

#3
terrence -

i have stayed at nearby winfrith newburgh, although we didn't go to tyneham.
this site has some more pics of the k1 box..........
http://tinyurl.com/l5h2s5e ( dead link 02-03-22 )

david@london

#4
Quote from: Mr. Bones on March 01, 2014, 02:32:18 PM
I wish they had more detailed pictures of the renovated kiosk, especially the notices and such that were installed inside. Anybody been there? Going there? I'll gladly provide the digital film for you to document the kiosk!! ;D

we were staying in dorset last week, so made a visit to tyneham, which is open to the public at weekends. it's an interesting place.
it's located a mile from the sea and surrounded by lovely countryside. there are quite a few cattle in the fields, so i suppose the british army are quite careful about where they aim their tank shells.
the village, or hamlet, is made up of a few houses (now in ruins), some restored farm buildings (the barn containing a small theatre), the school house and church (both well-preserved).
the villagers, or their descendents, still have no right of permanent return. well i suppose the military chaps have to practise their aiming skills somewhere.
no charge for digital film, mr bones.  ;D
nb, the phonebox door is locked and has perspex windows.

FABphones

Below, images of the K1 kiosk spanning several decades, and some background info:

In 1943 the village of Tyneham was requisitioned by the Army as a training area and used as a temporary firing range and training ground for troops. It was never returned to the villagers (who believed they would return), being compulsory purchased in 1948.

'During the filming of 'Comrades' in 1985 an accident resulted in Tyneham's telephone kiosk being completely destroyed.

The K1 Mark 236 now at Tyneham is a replacement, bought by the film company responsible'
.


Does anyone know the history of how the kiosk was destroyed (by the film company) and if the replacement is a partial or total replica?

As so few of these remain I would hope it could have been salvaged in some way.
A collector of  'Monochrome Phones with Sepia Tones'   ...and a Duck!
***********
Vintage Phones - 10% man made, 90% Tribble
*************


david@london

Quote from: FABphones on February 03, 2022, 01:48:13 PM
Does anyone know the history of how the kiosk was destroyed (by the film company) ... ?

I remember reading that a vehicle was accidentally reversed into the kiosk.