The people of Bletchley Park

Alan Turing

Alan Turing is the most famous worker from Bletchley Park. He led hut eight which was the section for German Naval Cryptanalysis and he said "No one else was doing anything about it so I could have it to myself". During a trip to America to assist American Naval Cryptanalysis his post was taken by Hugh Alexander. He then became a consultant for Cryptanalysis. It is predicted that his work shortened the war in Europe by 2-4 years. After the war ended Alan Turing worked at the National Physical Laboratory.




Joan Clarke

Joan Clarke worked in hut eight in Bletchley Park, which focused on Naval Cryptanalysis, where she eventually became deputy head. She was paid less than the men for her work and believed that her gender prevented her from progressing further. During her time at Bletchley Park she became very good friends with Alan Turing.

BLETCHLEY PARK

Bletchley Park is located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England and was built in 1883. It was the central site of UK Government Code and Cypher School. During World War 2 it was a key site for cracking the German codes and without it we probably wouldn't have won the war. During the time it was top secret and if anyone told people about it they would be killed. Although people assume it was mainly men working there, by 1944 75% of workers were women. In 1974  the public was granted better access to Bletchley Park. The film 'The Imitation Game' starring Benedict Cumberbatch was about Alan Turing-one of the key code breakers at Bletchley Park during the war. In addition Tessa Dunlop is writing a book about the women at Bletchley Park as they are not given enough credit .