English Heritage Steps In To Help Save Bletchley Park For The Nation

£330,000 Grant Awarded to Bletchley Park Trust for Urgent Repair Works

The famous World War II codebreaking centre, Bletchley Park near Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, is set to benefit from a £330,000 grant from English Heritage. One of the biggest grants awarded by English Heritage this year, it will cover urgent repair works to the roof of the grade II listed mansion to save it from falling into further disrepair.

From left, Sir Francis Richards, Chairman of the Bletchley Park Trust, Simon Greenish, Director of Bletchley Park Trust and Dr Simon Thurley, English Heritage Chief Executive outside Bletchley Park Mansion near Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire The Bletchley Park Estate is the centre from which World War II codebreakers cracked the notorious German Enigma code. The wartime history of Bletchley Park has since become known to millions through the story of the unsung intellectual warriors such as Alan Turing, Gordon Welchman, Dilly Knox and others who developed the method to crack the code, ultimately resulting in the shortening of the Second World War.

The rooms of the mansion, embellished with decorative plasterwork, painted ceilings, timber panelling and fine fireplaces, are all at high risk of irreparable damage from water seeping through the roofs. Alterations and additions to the Victorian mansion over the years have resulted in a very complicated roof with more than 50 slopes, several flat roofs, glazed roofs and even a copper covered dome. The urgent repair work to be funded by English Heritage and completed by the end of March, will save these delicate interiors from further decay.

Dr Simon Thurley, Chief Executive of English Heritage, said: "Bletchley Park played a fundamental role in the Allies winning the Second World War and is of great importance to the history of Europe. English Heritage is committed to saving this fascinating group of buildings so that future generations can understand something of the enormous human endeavour which went on there. I am delighted that we can offer a grant of £330,000 towards securing a future for this very special place. English Heritage isn't only concerned with great architectural set pieces. The modest wartime huts at Bletchley are also of huge historical importance and it is vital that they are retained if people are to understand the significance of the whole estate."

Simon Greenish, Director of Bletchley Park Trust, welcomed the announcement from English Heritage. He said: "This is a momentous event for the Bletchley Park Trust, its supporters and the nation. We would like to convey enormous thanks to English Heritage for their support. This investment will not only ensure that the structure and fabric of the iconic Bletchley Park Mansion are preserved but it marks the start of a regeneration initiative on behalf of the Bletchley Park Trust to transform Bletchley Park into a world-class heritage and education centre. This major contribution from English Heritage clearly demonstrates the historical importance of the site and the need to ensure it is protected for the future and endorses the words of Professor Richard Holmes, This is sacred ground. If this isn't worth preserving, what is?"

Local MP, Dr Phyllis Starkey, commented: "It is fantastic news that English Heritage has granted Bletchley Park £330,000 for its urgent roof repairs. This generous investment will help to ensure that our city's historic site continues to be preserved as a world-class heritage and educational centre".

Bletchley Park was in a state of neglect when the trust took it over in 1992. Since then, The Bletchley Park Trust has raised £5 million to develop and restore parts of the site. It is open to the public as a museum with a thriving educational programme. It is also available as a venue and hosts regular events and activities. The commercial use of the site has generated income to support the progress achieved so far but until now the Trust has had no ongoing public or private funding to help complete the restoration work and ensure that Bletchley Park continues to tell its important story to future generations.

In addition to this substantial £330,000 grant, English Heritage is in discussions with the Bletchley Park Trust and Milton Keynes Borough Council on a conservation area partnership scheme to secure the restoration of the historic wartime huts over three years from next April. English Heritage will provide funding to the amount of £100,000 per year (total £300,000) if match funding can be provided by the partners to create a fund of £600, 000 for a rolling programme to restore the World War II code-breakers huts, which are also in desperate need of repair.