The World War Two code-breaking site Bletchley Park has been
awarded £460,500 by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), with the
possibility of £4.1m more.
The money will go towards the maintenance and development of the
historic site, whose code-breakers are credited with helping to
shorten the war by two years.
The site
fell into a critical condition after the war and was only
recently given £930,000 by English Heritage and Milton Keynes
Council to repair and restore buildings.
Other funding has also started to trickle in.
Mathematician Alan Turing was among the staff who helped to
break the German Enigma code. The money will be used to transform
the Bletchley site into an educational centre focused on the work
that went on there, including Turing's contribution.
Colossus machines, the world's first computing devices, were
used at the site.
The Bletchley Park Trust can now progress to the second round of
the HLF application process, and has two years to submit more
detailed plans to apply for a further £4.1m. The Trust wants £10m
in total.
Simon Greenish, director of the Bletchley Park Trust, said, "The
support offered by HLF is a landmark event for the Trust in our
quest to provide a permanent future for Bletchley Park that will
enable us to work up detailed plans for the education and enjoyment
of future generations.
"Since 1992, the Trust has fought fiercely, tirelessly and
righteously for this victorious moment." But he added there is
still a long way to go before the Trust reaches its goal.
Dr Sue Black, head of department of information and software
systems at the University of Westminster and a Bletchley Park
campaigner, said in a
blog post, "This
is not the beginning of the end, but the end of the beginning.
Bletchley Park still needs your help. On top of the HLF money it
still needs £250,000 per annum operational funding for the next
five years, plus another £6m funding."
Carole Souter, chief executive of HLF, said, "Bletchley Park is
an extraordinary part of the UK's heritage. Its story should be
much more widely known and appreciated. We also recognise the
importance of preserving the site as a tribute to the men and women
who worked there with quiet and tireless dedication during World
War Two. Without their dedication, our nation's history might have
been a very different one."