Bletchley Park

[xstitcher]

I have just started a book on Bletchley Park during the war. It states that there were 9 to 10 thousand people working there.

Where did they all sleep and eat as I have the impression that the town of Bletchley was a small one?

[emmie]

not sure but the programmes i have watched about Bletchley have it that the people went to their homes, they could not tell anyone the nature of the work, having signed the Official secrets Act. Many never revealed their part in operations, and some only came to light in recent years, long after they were dead.

[EcclesCake]

It was a 24 hour site and bunks were shared, i.e. while one shift worked the other slept.

[xstitcher]

From what I have read so far they were hand picked from all over the UK so going home wasn't an option for most of them. They did have 24/7 watches but still 9 to 10 thousand of them sharing.... and some very large egos in the 9 to 10 thousand....This book should be interesting!!

[EcclesCake]

The personnel at Bletchley were actually discouraged from leaving as the locals would have been suspicious of strangers in their midst.

Having everyone living and working on site meant that there wasn't a mass exodus at the end of the shift, again to avoid local tongues wagging.

[marval]

My parents were at Bletchley Park, they were found places to stay. One couple they knew rented a house nearby and they stayed with them. Some did sleep at the park as has been suggested.

[xstitcher]

WOW how interesting to have had parents that were there. You might enjoy the book that I'm reading: The Secret Life of Bletchley Park" by Sinclair McKay.

[marval]

That one I haven't read, I must try it, thank you.

[humbersloop]

I really enjoyed reading it xstitcher, well written and reasearched - and an amazing place

[marval]

I live in Just a few minutes away from it.

[xstitcher]

Thanks for backing up the book. I have just started it this morning and it really has got my interest right away which is a good sign. How interesting to live so near it and to be able to look at it and imagine all the drama going on there there during WW2. WOW

[excelsior-1]

good afternoon xstitcher.

sounds like a fascinating read.

looks like i'm going to the library this week ..... thank you for the recommendation.

[nungate]

I've only read Station X about Bletchley Park but I will look for the book you are reading, it sounds like the sort of book I'd find interesting and would enjoy, thanks for mentioning it

[humbersloop]

Some friends recently spent a weekend visiting xstitcher, they reccommended it highly

http://www.bletchleypark.org.uk/

[EcclesCake]

I enjoyed it, it's how I came by my accommodation info....although that may not be entirely accurate or maybe applied to a specific period.

Unless things have changed do not use SatNav to help you find it, you end up at the house of lady who get's rather grumpy with Bletchley visitors turning around in her drive!

[xstitcher]

I have noted Station X nungate. When I went into Amazon I saw that there were a lot of books about Bletchley. I had the DVD Enigma but didn't enjoy it so much as this book.

[EcclesCake]

^^^That's not an apostrophe.....it's a microdot......

[xstitcher]

Won't use the satnav then....don't want to upset the old dear!!

[nungate]

I think the film Engima is yet another of Hollywood's take on history, and as such we must remember that it's a piece of entertainment and take it with a large pinch of salt. The Station X book is based on the Channel 4 tv series about Bletchley Park which I found both entertaining and informative.
I'm assuming from your name and avatar that you are also a fellow stitcher?
At last! I'm hoping I've found another stitcher here on AB apart from queenofmean, who is also my daughter so she doesn't count (well she does but, och you know what I mean)

[xstitcher]

Yes nungate I am DEFINITELY a stitcher. Is there a place to meet on AB for people like us?

[nungate]

Sorry Xstitcher, I've only just found your answer from yesterday. I can honestly say I've never seen a thread for stitchers on AB - maybe we could start one? For certain I know of only 3 stitchers among us, you're one, I'm another and my daughter (Queenofmean) is the other! I'm sure there must be more of us out there though.
I'm going looking for that book on Bletchley later this week!