Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park
Bletchley Park is located just outside of Milton Keynes and was the birthplace of GCHQ, the cyber security branch of our secret services. It played a key role in reducing the length of WWII and was the home of the first electronic computer – Colossus. The majority of the site is now open to the public as a heritage centre.
We have been working on Bletchley Park with Kennedy O’Callaghan Architects for a number of years, initially with the refurbishment of a large block into the welcome centre with facilities and exhibition space. The Heritage-Lottery funded project ‘Neptune’ for the phased redevelopment of the historic listed buildings has allowed the buildings to be used to accommodate the museum and to interpret the buildings and their role in the codebreaking operations. The project - also funded by Milton Keynes Council and Historic England - allowed Bletchley Park to increase its visitor numbers from under 100,000 to in excess of 250,000 per year.
Following this, a second phase of development has begun to improve visitor facilities, enhance the education and archive provision and provide further exhibitions in the historic buildings and interpretation of the landscape. We have been involved in developing a scheme for creating a new interpretation space as well as general advice on the condition of various buildings that have suffered from neglect. These include the restoration of the Stableyard into a new family centre in Hut 4, the conversion of the World War II garages into a new cafe, and designs for a new exhibition suite in Block A, a new Education Centre in Block E and an Archive and Collections Centre in the Teleprinter Building Extension. Construction work commenced in 2021 and will be phased subject to funding.
Client: The Bletchley Park Trust
Architect: Kennedy O’Callaghan Architects
Photos courtesy of Photos courtesy of Mubsta Business Photography and Bletchley Park Trust