John Herivel and Hut 6

Detail of entrance to Hut 6. Photograph by Rachael Marshall.

This evening I planned to edit the photographs taken at Bletchley Park on Saturday - more of Block C, a few from the interiors of huts 3 and 6, and lots of details of the exteriors of huts 3 and 6.

And then I learned that John Herivel had passed away just the day before I was there. Herivel worked in Hut 6 and it was here that the 'Herivel tip' was tested day after day until suddenly it worked. It's sad and strange to see this shabby old building and imagine the excitement there must have been when his idea first worked.

Here's a picture of the front door of hut 6.

Interior of entrance to Block D

Block D entrance. Photograph by Rachael Marshall.

The history of the unused buildings is with the people who worked in them and their stories, yet the buildings somewhow reflect, or hold, or symbolise this value. If this wasn't true why keep the buildings? Why honour them with rebuilding and refurbishment? 

First look inside Block C

Entrance to Block C. Photograph by Rachael Marshall.

Interior of the entrance to Block C. Photograph by Rachael Marshall.

Sunlight in Block C. Photograph by Rachael Marshall.

Wall damage in Block C. Photograph by Rachael Marsall.

Skylight in Block C. Photograph by Rachael Marshall. 

"The light is wonderful.  It will be hard to get new spaces as good as they are now...." a friend commented.

I feel the same way about the spaces. They'd have to be cleaned up so much to make them safe for the public to see in this state that that the qualities of neglect and decay would be lost.  

Asbestos, bird crap everywhere, vegetation, carpets that are like beaches just after the tide has gone out because they're not just wet, they're liquid. It really is a privilege to see the buildings in their current state - untouched and mostly forgotten.