Bletchley Park secures Google funding

Christmas has come early for Bletchley Park, the site of secret British codebreaking activities during world war, which has received a £550,000 donation from Google.

The money will go towards the match funding that the Bletchley Park Trust needs to unlock a £4.6m grant that the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) announced in October. 

The trust is planning a £15m redevelopment of the site, the birthplace of the modern computer and home to the Enigma machines. This Google and HLF money is for the first phase of the project, which will cost £7.4m.

“The Google money means we are significantly closer and are making good progress to raising the £7.4m,” said Kelsey Griffin, director of museum operations and media relations at Bletchley Park.

Griffin said it was possible that work could start in the spring. Bletchley Park covers 26 acres and contains more than 70 buildings, many of them derelict. 

The aim is to restore the codebreaking huts 1, 3 and 6 and to create a visitor centre in Block C, which is derelict.

Bletchley Park is one of several dozen organisations that received grants from Google at the end of the year. These include the Computer History Museum and the Tech Museum, both in the US.

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Google Gives Back