Bletchley Park Facing Financial Ruin 234
biscuitfever11 writes "Bletchley Park, the home of Station X, Britain's secret code-breaking base during World War II, is barely scraping by financially, as shown in these images compiled by ZDNet this week. The site has undergone major redevelopment as an act of remembrance for the Allied efforts to break the German Enigma code, but now its future is clouded — among others, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation turned them down for financial assistance (since it doesn't have to do with the Internet). Its director estimates that Bletchley Park's funds will be exhausted in three years. Hungry land developers are circling. This is an insightful look at what's happened to Bletchley Park these days and the pain it's going through."
Upstairs boarder (Score:4, Interesting)
Except for hubris, I don't see the real benefit in holding on to all that real estate if all they are going to do is slowly bleed to death. If they put the land to work for them, by renting it out as office space, they could probably make enough to keep a smaller museum running.
But what do I know about those English? All I know is that when I go into the bathroom, I'm American. When I come out, I'm American again.
Re:The real problem (Score:5, Interesting)
when you are tripping over history with every other step you take then you'll get pretty relaxed about it as well.
having said that, it make me weep when a properly constructed 150+ year old house get ripped down for a cramped development of flats made from bricks, spit and twigs. it is precisely because of the sheer amount of historical relevance and interest that naturally some things get sacrificed, and once its gone then its gone for ever.
face it, as a attraction Bletchley has to compete with central london only 25 miles away - and when you put it like that it will always lose.
Lottery funding (Score:3, Interesting)
For the benefit of those not in the UK, the National Lottery is where you buy a ticket for £1 and choose six numbers. If the numbers you pick come up - then you win a load of cash.
This Lottery was supposed to raise money for what are deemed "Good Causes". These Good Causes are chosen by some committee who seem to have a strange idea with regard to what constitutes a "good cause". Running an elitist venue such as the Royal Opera House and maybe your clientele is dwindling because your prices are bloody ridiculous? Lottery funding to the rescue! There are plenty of examples of this "Old Boy" network, where obscure or unpopular elitist "causes" are funded, whilst small local projects - or indeed projects of National Historical value, such as Bletchley Park, are turned down.
Only a very small percentage of the takings from the Lottery actually makes its way to the causes - the vast majority goes to the company which runs the Lottery. That is one of my biggest complaints about it - Richard Branson has offered on at least two occasions to run the Lottery and to make it a non-profit organisation, but has been turned down on both occasions, despite having the backing of most of the UK!
I am not familiar with how Bletchley is currently funded - presumably by entrance fees? - but I would expect the UK Government to help out, rather than see this go under.
Re:Why would they expect Gates Foundation funding? (Score:5, Interesting)
Here in the states, we've got the NSA cryptologic museum [nsa.gov], where among other things you can tool around on an old Enigma from WWII. Can't imagine why Britain wouldn't want something like it.
Who cares ? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Why would they expect Gates Foundation funding? (Score:2, Interesting)
Indeed... there's no angle here where Bill can trade charity for Windows sales to the government as far as I can tell... little wonder he turned 'em down. Before you think this is 'Bill-bashing', take a look at Mexico as a huge example of how Mssr. Gates does marketshare-pushing in developing countries.
Now here, I agree. If it were important to Parliament, they would've obviously done something by now. As it is, Colossus could be moved to the appropriate national museum and given its own place of honor. This would likely give it a wider audience and a more convenient viewing.
Re:Why would they expect Gates Foundation funding? (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Why would they expect Gates Foundation funding? (Score:5, Interesting)
Yep, that's pretty much it. There's only so much funding to go around, and there are thousands and thousands of sites of historical interest competing for it. Bletchley isn't really such a strong competitor; the site itself is of no architectural interest, it's nothing to look at. All it ever was was a bunch of army huts. There are ancient castles and manors falling down which are much more photogenic and attract more tourists.
To me Bletchley is of more intellectual than historic interest: it's where Turing did his work founding the discipline of computer science. As such, I wonder if the best way forward would be for the site to become a technology park, or a research centre attached perhaps to the OU? That would preserve what was important there - the intellectual tradition - even if it meant doing away with most of the WW2-era buildings.
Re:Why would they expect Gates Foundation funding? (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Why would they expect Gates Foundation funding? (Score:5, Interesting)
I have, about 2 years ago. And it's fantastic. You might thinkt hats long as someone took a few photos of it, we can bulldoze it and build luxury flats there. But i disagree.
I normally HATE guided tours of places, but the tour of bletchley is fantastic, given by genuine experts, some of whom worked there, and who have a very deep understanding of technically how the cods were broken. the museum there is awesome, and the re-created machines that you can go and look at are truly astounding. This is literally the birthplace of computing. And you would happily let it disappear?
Here is some pics I took of some of the rebuilt machines, with the guy who did the rebuilding pictured:
http://www.positech.co.uk/blog/enigma1.jpg [positech.co.uk]
http://www.positech.co.uk/blog/enigma2.jpg [positech.co.uk]
http://www.positech.co.uk/blog/enigma3.jpg [positech.co.uk]
BP is well worth saving. Much more so than just ANOTHER stately home, of which we preserve hundreds.
Re:Why would they expect Gates Foundation funding? (Score:2, Interesting)
Human cognition is modulated by emotional processes, which are highly affected by symbolism. If we want the lessons learned from events like those at Bletchley Park to have societal significance in informing future generations, the emotional impact and symbolism of preserving the physical location is a huge benefit.
Personally, I know that I recall historical lessons learned from actual visits to museums much better and more vividly than any list of dry facts I learned in history class. Psychological principles tell us that this is most likely the case with the majority of other people as well.
The historical value is greatly enhanced by the "emotional and symbolic attachment" that you dismiss.
Re:Why would they expect Gates Foundation funding? (Score:2, Interesting)
But Bechtley park should definitivelly be transformed into a museum in memory of Alan Turing.
Not only is it significant in relation to the second world war, but it is also significant in relation to the genius and personal tragedy of Alan Turing.
M. Turing unfortunatelly for him had "illegal sexual orientations" (he was gay, and by the way no I'm not).
Because of this he was condemned to chemical castration, and nobody came up to explain to the juge that he was condemning not some "coward hidden in an office that refused to do his duty", but the savior of millions.
This ultimatelly led to his suicide.
Bringing schoolschildren to present the dangers of the times, and the cruelty and tragedy stemming from bigottry and conformism of the time would be a reason to fund this place.