Bletchley Park

This afternoon we went to Bletchley Park!

Bletchley Park was the home of the code-breakers in World War II. The Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) was moved to Bletchley Park in 1939 and remained largely secret until 1974. According to British Intelligence, the efforts of these code-breakers shortened the war by at least two years.

At its peak, nearly 10,000 people worked at Bletchley Park: over 8,000 women and 1,000 men. In this light, it is remarkable that the accomplishments at Bletchley Park were completely secret until 1974. The park's exhibits highlight the human aspect of living at Bletchley during the war. Many of the oral histories emphasize the importance of recreational games and activities, as the work was inherently stressful yet often monotonous. Veterans recall working 8-hour shifts -- from 8am-4pm, 4pm-12am, and 12am-8am -- but rarely the same shift week-to-week. Consequently, sports, performances, and dances were vital. In particular, the arrival of the American code-breakers was welcome, as they brought better food and hosted more social events! Though I am deeply impressed by the clever women and men who worked here, I do not begrudge them the experience.

The library at Bletchley Park manor - many thanks to Veronica Wood for the photo!

 For more information about Bletchley Park, see the full website at https://bletchleypark.org.uk/