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Bletchley Park Facing Financial Ruin

Posted by kdawson on from the save-turing's-hut dept.

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."

5 of 234 comments (clear)

  1. Why would they expect Gates Foundation funding? by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    These aren't starving kids in Africa, for crying out loud. It's just a museum. And, however important the historical significance of the site, it's hardly fair to make a snide remark about not getting funding from a foundation that has MUCH more important issues to deal with. If anything, they should be getting funding from the British government (and obviously THEY don't think it's so important).

    I know this is /., and there is many a Bill-basher here who would probably take ANY opportunity to blast him, but COME ON.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:Why would they expect Gates Foundation funding? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yea! Let the Brits destroy their heritage like we do in the US. Tear it down and put a parking lot on it, that's what I say.

    2. Re:Why would they expect Gates Foundation funding? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Kids in Africa are starving for reasons the Gates Foundation can't fix.

      That written, I view the demise of Bletchley Park the same way I look at copyrights: Doing something great a long time ago shouldn't guarantee you a lifetime of financial benefits. Even if you saved the world.

      Great you broke codes but a long time has passed since then. Figure out how to pay your own way.

    3. Re:Why would they expect Gates Foundation funding? by __aamnbm3774 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      ugh, what-ever.
      every single inch of soil has some history to it.
      If you really think saving this place is worth time and effort, please donate some of your money.

      My guess is not many people feel like you do.

  2. No exaggeration by hcdejong · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I was there a few years ago. Some of the exhibits were in WW2 vintage barracks (i.e. temporary buildings never meant to stand for more than 5 years, let alone 50. In one hut, there were puddles on the floor. The whole place is falling apart.

    As for the argument 'you can always move the exhibits to the Science Museum and sell the land': The exhibits are important, but the accomodations themselves make a point that's worth remembering as well. The most vital project of the entire war was being run out of a collection of sheds, basically. To think that 9000 people worked there on the most advanced technology in existence back then, boggles the mind.