Lilian Mary Garneys BOND of Tyneham

Lilian, daughter of William Henry Bond and Mary Caroline Meysey Thompson and wife to Herbert Iso De Kenton Bond, is not just a distant relative; she is a cousin.

A connection I made while delving into the history of a property that belonged to the Bond family. This revelation came to light when I stumbled upon a poignant story detailing how the British military commandeered Tyneham during the tumultuous period of World War II. The narrative surrounding this property is one of loss, resilience, and the enduring impact of war on communities.

As I continued my research, I discovered that Lilian authored a remarkable book titled Tyneham, A Lost Heritage, published by A Publication. This book is a heartfelt chronicle of her childhood experiences at Tyneham Manor House, located in the quaint Tyneham Village, Dorset. Lilian’s narrative spans her formative years up until the eve of the Great War in 1914, offering readers a glimpse into a world that was rich in history and familial bonds.

Tyneham Manor

Tyneham itself has a hauntingly beautiful yet tragic history. The village has been abandoned since 19 Dec 1943, when the British military forcibly took it over to serve as a D-Day training area. This decision transformed the village into a live firing range, leaving behind homes and public buildings that have since succumbed to the ravages of time and neglect. The remnants of this once-thriving community now stand as a testament to the sacrifices made during the war, with nature gradually reclaiming the land.

Despite its abandonment, Tyneham is not entirely off-limits to the public. On certain days when military maneuvers are not in progress, visitors are allowed to wander through the desolate streets of the village, offering a rare opportunity to connect with the past and reflect on the lives that once flourished there. The eerie silence of the empty houses and the overgrown gardens evokes a sense of nostalgia and sorrow for what has been lost.

After the war concluded in 1945, the families who had been displaced, including the Bonds, voiced their grievances through letters and petitions directed at the British government and military authorities. They expressed their deep dissatisfaction over the loss of such a historically significant village. The crux of their frustration lay in the promise made to them that the village would be returned after the war, a promise that ultimately went unfulfilled. This betrayal left a lasting mark on the Bonds and the other residents, who had invested their lives in the community.

In a poignant letter titled "Everlin Bond: A Message to the Troops," Everlin Bond implored the military personnel occupying the village to treat the church and the houses with care. Her heartfelt message read:

Tyneham Church Door

Please treat the church and houses with care. We have given up our homes where many of us have lived for generations, to help win the war to keep men free. We will return one day, and thank you for treating the village kindly.

This plea encapsulated the hope and determination of the villagers to reclaim their home, a hope that would eventually fade as the years passed.

The Bond family did receive a compensation package of £30,000 for their loss, a sum that, while significant, felt inadequate given the deep emotional and historical ties they had to the village. The Bonds owned a considerable portion of Tyneham, and the amount they received felt like a mere token gesture compared to the value of their ancestral home. They would have preferred the return of their village, as was promised, rather than a financial settlement that could never replace what had been taken from them.

The relationship between the Bond family and the villagers was deeply intertwined, resembling a near feudal setup. Many villagers worked for the Bond family, living in tied properties and contributing to the family's agricultural endeavours. This strong bond created a sense of community that was shattered when the village was taken over. After the war, the War Office reneged on the agreement with the Bonds, and the villagers were never allowed to return to their homes.

The Bonds and the community of Tyneham had given their all for the success of the D-Day campaign, yet their sacrifices were met with betrayal.

Following the loss of their home, the Bond family relocated to Corfe Castle, seeking a new beginning amidst the ruins of their past. While remnants of Tyneham still exist today, the once-majestic Tyneham Manor House has succumbed to the elements and military activities, with the area where it once proudly stood now designated as off-limits. This destruction serves as a stark reminder of the passage of time and the impact of conflict on historical sites.

Lilian Bond, through her evocative writing, has taken us on a vivid journey into the heart of Tyneham Manor. Each room is brought to life through her treasured and unique descriptions, painting a picture of the vibrant life that once thrived within its walls. Her reflections on the generations of the Bond family provide invaluable insights into the personal histories that intertwine with the broader narrative of Tyneham Village, enriching our understanding of this lost heritage.

As a family researcher, I have realised the wealth of family history that is available for my discovery in searching and reading publications such as Tyneham, A Lost Heritage by Lilian Mary Garneys Bond.

The Village and Manor House of Tyneham was purchased by Nathanial Bond of Lutton MP in 1683 from Henry Williams, who built the Manor House in 1563 - 1583.

Nathanial also purchased Creech Grange in Steeple Dorset in 1691.

The Bond family occupied Tyneham from 1683 to 1943, in 1860, Nathanial Bond Rev established the Tyneham school, and the school remained open till 1932 when it was forced to close due to a lack of students.

The Bonds left Tyneham in 1943 after 260 years of occupancy; they left a trail of stories within stories for us to discover and bring to life for the benefit of future family members.

Published by Dorset County Chronicle, 15 February 1866

A violent storm burst over this neighbourhood on Sunday last, endangering life and doing considerable damage to property in this locality.

An old man who acted as parish clerk at Tyneham for many years was blown completely off his legs and very much shaken by the fall, and when he sought shelter at Tyneham House, the residence of Thomas Bond, Esq., the poor old man was in a very distressed and exhausted state.

A number of fine old trees, forming part of an avenue on the estate of the above-named gentleman, have been blown down and others dismembered, but the total amount of damage is not yet ascertained.

Published by the Western Gazette, Friday 14 July 1893

THE ROYAL WEDDING. – A tea for the people of Tyneham was given at Warbarrow by the Rev. J. Bond, of Tyneham House, to celebrate the wedding of the Duke of York. At the same time and place Mr. N. Bond, of Grange, gave a tea to the children of Holme, Grange and Steeple, and to such of the older people as could come. The children were driven over in waggons, and at once began to make the most of their time by bathing, going in the boats provided, and other seaside pleasures. At four o’clock the children were summoned to their tea, which was prepared just in front of the Coastguards’ houses, the scene being enlivened by flags, some of which had been hoisted by the Coastguardsmen, while others, which had been brought by the children in procession were now planted in the grounds at the top of the green. When the children’s tea was over, the elder folks gathered round and enjoyed the plentiful supply of good cheer. Mr. Bennett‘s well-known cakes and bread being as good as ever, thorough justice was done to them.  Altogether more than three hundred persons were thus entertained. Various races and sports were then improvised, conducted by Messrs. Chilcott, Nineham, Ogle, &c., and the onlookers seemed much interested, and applauded loudly. A concertina being forthcoming, some of the party were soon dancing, and the evening was so still that the music was sufficient to enable the dancers to keep step. About eight o’clock, as the more distant folk were preparing to leave, the Rector suggested that “God save the Queen” should be sung, which was done heartily without accompaniment. Then three cheers for Her Majesty were given with a will, led off by Mr. Ward, the officer in charge. Three more for the Duke of York and three for the Duchess followed. After that three for “Our entertainers,” the two Messrs. Bond, were enthusiastically given, and three more for the Rev. Canon and Mrs. Wordsworth and Mr. and Mrs. Filliter. The Rector responded by calling for three cheers for Mr. Ward and the Coastguards generally, who so greatly contributed to the success of the entertainment. After this dancing and races went on again, as long as the light lasted. The feature of the evening was the extreme good temper of the company, even the losers of the races coming in with a broad grin, and joining in the laugh at the good-humoured jibes bestowed on the laggards. Altogether it was a most delightful gathering, the weather perfect, the little bay looking at its best, and everyone on good terms with themselves and their neighbours. The Duke of York’s wedding day will long be remembered in Tyneham, where everyone wishes him and his fair bride all possible joy and blessing.

Published by The Times, Tuesday 30 August 1910:

Mr. L.L. Yeatman-Biggs and Miss Cicely Bond

The marriage of Mr. Lewin Legge Yeatman-Biggs, son on the Bishop of Worcester and the late Lady Barbara Yeatman-Biggs, to Miss Cicely Bond, daughter of Mr. William H. Bond, of Tyneham House, Wareham, Dorset will take place on September 6 at Tyneham Church. The Bishop of Lichfield, the Bishop of Worcester, and the Rev, C.S. Homan will officiate. There will be six bridesmaids – the Misses Lilian and Margaret Bond (sisters of the bride), Miss Yeatman-Biggs (sister of the bridegroom), the Misses Barbara and Elizabeth Yeatman-Biggs (twin nieces of the bridegroom) and Miss Evelyn Blake. Sir Randolph Baker, M.P., will be best man. The reception will be held at Tyneham House, and the Bishop of Worcester has lent Hartlebury Castle for the honeymoon.

Among the wedding presents are the following:- A gold-fitted dressing-case from the Bishop of Worcester; a silver tea-pot and coffee-pot from the Earl and Countess of Dartmouth; an armchair from the Earl and Countess of Iddesleigh; four pierced gold-fruit dishes from Lord and Lady Knaresborough; a dinner service from the Bishop of Lichfield and the Hon. Mrs. Legge; a silver sugar-bowl from Viscount St. Cyres; an antique table from Lady Octavia Legge; an old chair from Lady Wilhemina Brooke; an umbrella from Lady Croft; and a leather blotting-book from Major and the Hon. Mrs. Geoffry Glynn.

Published by Dorset County Chronicle, Thursday 24 March 1910.

The annual parish meeting was held in the Schoolroom on Saturday evening, the Rector (the Rev. C. S. Homan) being in the chair.

Mr. W. H. Bond proposed the re-election of Mr. Homan2 as chairman. Mr J. Bascombe seconded, and it was carried unanimously. Messrs. Job Chilcott and Walter C. Smith were unanimously re-elected overseers, and thanks were accorded them for their past services.

The Chairman announced that Mr. W. H. Bond had kindly became guarantee to the Postmaster-General for the necessary amount required for the restoration of the postal telegraph service to Tyneham, which was suspended on the removal of the coastguard, and a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Bond for his action was carried with acclamation. The restoration of the telegraph service will prove a great boon to Tyneham.

The Chairman was cordially thanked for presiding.

Published in Western Gazette, 6 April 1945

Mr. William Ralph Garneys Bond, of Tyneham House, Corfe Castle, Dorset’s new sheriff, was born in 1880, was educated at Eton and New College, Oxford. He served in the Sudan political service from 1905 to 1926 and was governor of Fung (1922-24) and of Dongola (1924-26). He is a Justice of the Peace for Dorset, having qualified at the 1927 Midsummer Quarter Sessions, and is a member of the Wareham and Purbeck Rural Council.

Published by The Times, Thursday 14 August 1980

Deaths: BOND. – On 12th August, 1980, Lilian, aged 93, widow of Ivo Bond, daughter of William Bond of Tyneham, Dorset. Funeral service at St. Mary’s Church, Dorchester on Tuesday, 19th August at 11.30 am, followed by cremation at Weymouth. No flowers by request. Enquiries please to Grassby & Sons, Funeral Directors, 16 Princes Street, Dorchester. Tel. Dorchester 2338

Published by Daily Echo, Saturday 23 February 2008

By Nick Churchill

BENEATH the muck and dust of ages, Tyneham’s centuries-old farm is stirring. For nearly 65 years all that has moved through its stables and stalls are bats, creepy-crawlies and the odd range warden – but a new project is under way that will see these buildings restored and reopened.

Not that it will ever be a working farm of course – Purbeck’s famed ghost village has long since surrendered all possibility of human habitation – but it will provide a unique vantage point from which we can peer into the past.

I’m lying awake at night working out how I can bring the whole thing together, but the idea is to show how the farm worked.

Lilian Bond

Project manager and designer Lynda Price and her husband John have already cleared the pond by the time I find them ankle-deep in mud.

A small double-arched bridge has been uncovered, and so, to their surprise, has the cobbled floor of the stream. “This must have been for decoration, because I can’t imagine why someone would go to all that trouble if they only used the stream to flush away waste from the stables,” says Lynda.

“It’s a puzzle, one of many, but that’s what I love about this job.

“Lilian Bond called this the Pond Yard in her book (Tyneham: A Lost Heritage) but, although she gives very detailed descriptions, I have no idea how this was laid out. I’d imagine there’s a stone road over that bridge as this was the main entrance to the farm from what they called the Lulworth road.”

Tyneham and the surrounding area was evacuated in 1943 to allow Allied troops to exercise in the build-up to the Normandy landings. The villagers and the estate’s owners, the Bond family, never returned.

Retained as part of Lulworth Ranges, for decades it remained largely unseen, gradually returning to nature until the mid-1970s when the Ministry of Defence agreed greater public access on weekends and holidays.

In 1994, the old school was reopened, restored to how it looked in the 1920s. Work followed on the church and many of the cottages with a series of displays explaining village life under what was, to all intents and purposes, the last vestiges of feudal England.

Swanage-based artist Lynda has now turned her attention to Tyneham Farm. “The farmhouse is only two bricks high, so that is lost, as are some of the other buildings.

“But the Great Barn, the granary, stables, tack room and cowsheds are all there. So is the mysterious bull house, which had a chicken coop on top.”

She plans to reopen the main barn as The History Barn, for use by community groups and schools, as well as placing the farm in its historical and environmental context.

One wall appears to have been painted blue. “Well, Lilian Bond talks about the Tyneham Players, and the shows they put on. Her father erected a stage on the north aisle, so it could be that they painted it. She says they used to have up to 160 people sitting in there.”

In the store above the 1904 coach house, Lynda opens the shutter doors and the light floods in.

The original tiles are on the roof and, although part of the timber framing has been patched up, there are materials here that are hundreds of years old.

“Most of this is 1904 because we know the steps were originally on the outside of the building, but the stables, stalls and mangers are part of a much older building.

“I’m lying awake at night working out how I can bring the whole thing together, but the idea is to show how the farm worked and to look at the decline of small farming communities. It will also acknowledge the radar research work at Brandy Bay.”

Lynda is on the lookout for pre-1940s farm implements and excitedly showed me photos of long-redundant chaff-cutters and hay-balers sent to her by a property developer who was impressed by her work at Tyneham.

“You get involved in every aspect of the project – from tracing families to finding the right wood and stone, designing displays and clearing bramble.”

Her boundless enthusiasm surfaces again as she shares with me a letter from the nephew of Walter Case-Smith, the tenant farmer until the early 1940s.

He talks about a much-admired flock of Dorset Horn sheep and how the milk had to be stored overnight in tanks of water to keep it fresh in summer before a lorry arrived to take it to Corfe Castle.

“It’s amazing what you find out – Walter Case-Smith was quite a character. The field in front of the farmhouse was open, so cows, chickens and sheep would be out grazing together. You wouldn’t see that nowadays.”

The last tenant of Tyneham Farm was one S C Churchill. “Now he wasn’t very popular. He was a newcomer for one thing, but he also brought the first tractors to the valley.

“Previously everything had been done by horse, so he laid farmworkers off – and, of course, he got all the compensation when the village was evacuated.”

As with the rest of the work at Tyneham, the farm project is not commercially-driven.

The village remains a gentle oasis for the imagination untainted by tea rooms, gift shops and hi-tech displays, allowing the ruins to retain the mystery that has captured the minds of thousands of visitors over the years.

“I can’t stand that phrase visitor centre’ – it’s so dry and dull,” says Lynda.

“What I love about Tyneham is that it’s a great place for people of all ages where they are not hassled by ice cream sellers, hot dog stands and souvenir stalls.

“The Army does not have a vast budget of taxpayers’ money for Tyneham, so I’ve had to get very good at asking people for things for nothing and the £2 parking fee really does pay for the upkeep.”

Clearing work continues – much of it involving community groups such as the Lulworth Society – but as befits this window on Purbeck’s past, there’s no set date for the reopening of Tyneham Farm. Things have a habit of working out when they’re meant to.

“There is a plan of sorts, but no timetable. There are so many possibilities – it’s very exciting.”

The Great Barn at Tyneham Farm will be open to the public on March 22. If you have old farm implements or other ephemera that may find a home at Tyneham, please contact range liaison officer Lt Col Ken Davies on 01929 404714.

The Villagers who were displaced in 1943:

Henry Mark Garneys Bond 1922- Henry was the son of Ralph and Evelyn Bond. He later served in the Royal Green Jackets and became Major-General and Brigadier.

Elizabeth Mary Garneys Bond 1921- Elizabeth was the daughter of Ralph and Evelyn Bond.

Mr & Mrs Ralph Bond

William Ralph Garneys Bond 12 Dec 1880 - 10 Feb 1952: Known as Ralph.

Evelyn Isabel Bond (nee Blake) 11 Sep 1884 - 3 Sep 1954:

Ralph and Evelyn had two children, Henry and Elizabeth (see above).

Mr & Mrs William Bond

Miss Margaret Bond

Margaret Helen ‘Margot’ Bond 1892-The Misses Blake

Mr & Mrs Churchill

S G Churchill was the farmer at Tyneham Farm.

Mr & Mrs Curtis

Joe Dando

Joseph Alfred Dando 1912-2002: Joe Dando worked as a Servant for the Bond Family at Tyneham House from 1926. He married Alice Edith ‘Rose’ Wellman, daughter of Bob & Alice Wellman, in 1934. Rose was also a servant at Tyneham House.

George & Ellen Davis

Mr & Mrs Phillip Draper

Phillip Draper lived at ‘Sheepleaze’ on the cliffs above Worbarrow.

Mrs Jane Draper

Gwendoline Driscoll

Mrs Gwendoline Driscoll was the shopkeeper at the Post Office.

Mr & Mrs Durrant

Maud Ellis

Miss Maud Ellis lived in ‘The Bungalow’ on the cliff edge overlooking Worbarrow Bay.

George, Lily & Archie Everett

The Rev. & Mrs Frend

Revd. Edwin George Clifford Frend died in 1937.

Edith Frend nee Bacon

William Frend

William Hugh Clifford Frend 1916-2005: Second son of Revd. E.G.C. Frend

Tom, Virtue & John Gould

Tom Gould was the Head Gardener.

Virtue Gould (nee Everett) 1877-1964

Harry, Marjorie, Arthur Grant

Harry Grant was the woodman at Tyneham House from 1926.

Arthur Henry John Grant 1922-2010: Arthur later married Grace and had two children, Geoffrey and Annette. Arthur’s ashes are buried in the graveyard at Tyneham Church.

Cyril Griffiths

James & Edith Herd

Mrs Edith Herd nee Knight 1886-?. Edith Knight Born Edith Knight, she married Harry Barnes in 1908 at East Lulworth and then married Scotsman James Forgan Herd in 1920. Edith was the postmistress in the 1930s.

James Forgan Herd 1892-1943. James died early in 1943 before the eviction.

Charlotte & Helen Hole

William Holland

Herbert & Jessie House

Herbert John House : Herbert was the farmer at North Egliston, sometimes referred to as South Tyneham Farm.

Gerald, Gwen & Poppy House

Poppy C House. Poppy was 18 when evacuated. She married Clifford Budden in 1946.

William House

Arthur & Rose House

Sylvia House

Sylvia was the daughter of Herbert & Jessica (Jessie) House of Povington Farm. She married George Francis Braisby of Blackmanston Farm, Steeple in 1943 - they were the last couple to be married at Tyneham.

Mr & Mrs Howard

Percy Howard

George Howard

Percy & Ellen Kerley

Albert & Reginald Longman

Lived at Longman’s Farm, Baltington

Charles Meech

Charlie Meech was the son of Emily Taylor, the Laundress, from her first marriage. He was the ‘Odd Man’ at Tyneham House.

Jack & Alice Miller

Jack Miller was known as ‘Jam’,

Alice Rose Miller was known as ’Miggie’.

Jam and Miggie lived at Rose Cottage, above Worbarrow Bay.

Charles & Harriet Miller

Charles William Miller 1852-1943: Charlie died a few days after the evacuation and the Army gave permission for him to be buried at Tyneham.

Harriet Deborah Miller (nee White) 1854-d: Harriet was buried at Wareham.

Charles and Harriet lived at Fern Cottage, Worbarrow.

Thomas & Minnie Miller

Winifred & Beatrice Minterne

Winifred Elizabeth Minterne 1901-1973

Beatrice Ann Minterne 1906-Tom Minterne

William Thomas Minterne 1863-The Rev. & Mrs Money

Revd. Humphrey Churchill Money 1884-1954 :

Mary Constance Money (nee Henderson) c.1889-Mr & Mrs Pritchard & son Arthur

Mrs N Pritchard was the Principal Teacher at Tyneham School. Arthur was their adopted son.

Mrs Rayner

Walter & Kate Smith

Walter Case Smith 1861-1948: Walter, nicknamed ‘Leather Jacket’, farmed Tyneham Farm during the 1930s and up to the eviction in December 1943. He moved to Holly Lodge at Stapehill near Wimborne and died on 18 January 1948.

Kate Theodora Smith nee Doble: Walter and Kate married in 1907.

Arthur & Phillis Stockley

Mr & Mrs James Tassell

William, Elizabeth & Helen Taylor

William Taylor: William was the woodman of Tyneham and was appointed Parish Clerk and Sexton by the Bond family. His wife was Emily, the laundress. She also doubled as local ‘midwife’ and was also caretaker for the church and school. Shed died in 1917 aged 52.

Harriet Elizabeth Taylor 1892-d : Known as Bessie.

Helen Beatrice Taylor 1901-1999 : Helen, known as ‘Beattie’ was the Seamstress at Tyneham House. She was the person who pinned the note on to the church door in 1943 saying ‘’Please treat the church and houses with care. We have given up our homes where many of us lived for generations to help win the war to keep men free. We shall return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly’.‘

After being displaced, the Taylor Family went t live at Corfe Castle.

Mr & Mrs Albert Toms

Mr & Mrs Upshall

William Upshall was a shepherd. The family lived at 4 The Row from 1925-1929.

Reginald Ware

Reginald Gower Ware 1891-1973 : Reggie was an ex-soldier severely wounded in World War 1. His left arm was virtually useless and he also suffered serious injury to his abdomen. He lived at Gate Cottage near the lower end of the Gwyle Stream. He had a boat called Witch of Worbarrow.

Mrs Wheeler

Mary Jane Wheeler was a widow whose late husband John was a cotton magnate from the Midlands. Mary had no children of her own but adopted her sister’s four children when their parents died.

Bob & Alice Wellman

Robert Wellman 1887-1964. Robert married Alice Victoria Lucas in 1912.

Alice Victoria Wellman (nee Lucas) 1887-1975. Alice was the daughter of ‘Shepherd’ Lucas (James William Lucas 1848-1925).

Their daughter Alice ‘Rose’ Wellman married Joe Dando in 1934

Ernest & Evelyn Whitlock

Bond family who owned Tyneham Manor:

Nathaniel Bond (1634-1707)

Denis Bond (1676-1747)

John Bond (1678-1744)

John Bond (1717-1784)

Revd. Denis Bond (1719-1795)

Thomas Bond (1756-1833)

Revd. William Bond (1757-1852)

Revd. John Bond (1801-1898)

Revd. Henry Bond (1804-1875)

Revd. Nathaniel Bond (1804-1889)

Nathaniel Bond (1840-1910)

William Henry Bond (1852-1935)

William Ralph Garneys Bond (1880-1952)

Henry Mark Garneys Bond (1922-2017)

Further reading:

Tyneham: A Lost Heritage By Lilian Bond

Copyright © Noel Bond. Researched and written by Noel Bond, No written part of this Blog may be reproduced in any form, by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author.