ENGLISH HERITAGE INITIATES MAJOR REGENERATION PROJECT FOR BLETCHLEY PARK

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.

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Editor’s Information:

• It is rare that English Heritage is able to give such a significant grant to a grade II listed building but the extraordinary historical importance of this site sets it apart as a national treasure.
• The English Heritage HBMDL (Historic Buildings, Monuments and designed Landscapes) scheme covers grants for the repair and conservation of some of England’s most significant historic sites. Grants are primarily offered for urgent repairs or other work required within two years to prevent loss or damage to important architectural, archaeological or landscape features. For further information please visit the English Heritage website: www.english-heritage.org.uk.
• Bletchley Park Mansion was built around 1880 by the speculative developer Samuel Lipscomb Seckham and was extended 1881-3. It was further enlarged by the financier and MP Sir Herbert Samuel Leon around 1900 and 1925.
• A succession of buildings from wooden huts of 1939-40 to brick and concrete blocks of the mid-1940s were erected with the occupation of the estate for wartime operations.
• The site was decommissioned in 1987 and with the site at risk of redevelopment the park was declared a conservation area in 1992 and the first Bletchley Park Trust was formed.