English Hertiage initiates Bletchley Park Regeneration Project

Bletchley Park calls for funding partners following £330,000 grant announcement from English Heritage

A news release on the Bletchley Park website site dated November 11 says:

ENGLISH HERITAGE has "laid down the gauntlet" to other funding bodies by pledging a further £100,000 a year to Bletchley Park over the next three years, on condition that the funding is matched by outside partners.

The total possible investment of £600,000 would be allocated to restoring key elements and buildings of the WW2 Codebreaking Centre.

Although Huts 4 and 8, wartime naval intelligence huts, Hut 12, Blocks A, B, E and H have already been restored by the Bletchley Park Trust, other enormously significant wartime codebreaking buildings, such as Huts 1,3 and 6, Enigma codebreaking huts, and Hut 11, wartime home to the Turing-Welchman Bombe machines, are in crucial state of disrepair.

Simon Greenish, Director of the Bletchley Park Trust welcomed the announcement as "a huge step forward".
He continued, "Not only would we like to convey enormous gratitude to English Heritage for their backing and the clear demonstration of their belief in the Trust, but we would also like to acknowledge the tremendous support and encouragement we have had this year from individuals, organisations and the media in highlighting the need for investment.

"This vital endorsement from English Heritage means we are infinitely more optimistic that these buildings will be restored for future generations and we are actively inviting other organizations and individuals to step forward to help drive this crucial regeneration initiative."

Simon Greenish went on to stress the importance of the project by delivering a quote from Professor Richard Holmes, the eminent historian, "This is sacred ground. If this isn't worth preserving, what is?"

Last week, English Heritage gave Bletchley Park a considerable additional boost with a £330,000 grant to cover urgent repair works to the roof of the iconic Grade II listed Mansion. This repair work commenced this week and will be completed by the Spring of 2009.