Bletchley Park receives £300,000 bailout

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 6 Nov 2008 at 15:48

Bletchley Park has received a £300,000 grant from English Heritage, allowing it to proceed with much-needed repairs.

The Bletchley Park Trust, which oversees the iconic site of Britain's code-breaking efforts during the Second World War, recently described the site as being "in a desperate state of decay" and put out an appeal for funds.

The trust says the grant will be used to carry out urgent repair work on the Grade II listed Victorian Mansion which once housed the Government Code and Cypher School.

According to the site's management, the house requires around £1 million worth of repairs and talks are underway to secure an additional £600,000 over the next three years.

"Bletchley Park played a fundamental role in the Allies winning the Second World War and is of great importance to the history of Europe," said Dr Simon Thurley, chief executive of English Heritage.

"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."