Many of the village's buildings suffered shell and explosion damage after the war when UK military operations began, and, additionally eroded by the weather, quickly fell into disrepair. Although the villagers had been told they could return in six months, this was never allowed. Documentary evidence of a return agreement was only discovered at the Defence Land Committee hearings. At the end of the war, efforts were made to restore Imber to its pre-war conditionalthough there was very little damagebut the decision was taken not to relinquish control.