Bletchley Park – the UK code-breaking facility which cracked the German World War Two enigma code – has been restored as part of an £8m (US$13.5m, €10m) Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) project.

The restoration has transformed the derelict wartime buildings into a brand new visitor attraction and museum which was officially opened by the Duchess of Cornwall Kate Middleton today (18 June).

The four-year restoration project, led by Event Communications with PLB operating as consultants on the project, has involved careful restoration of the site’s huts and the creation of a new introductory exhibition.

Codebreaking Huts 3 and 6, where enigma messages were decrypted, translated and analysed for vital intelligence, have been fully restored and visitors will be able to explore these spaces for the first time in decades.

Sound will be used outdoors to immerse guests in their experience, recreating wartimes sounds as well as train whistles, rounders games and even footsteps.

“Working with the team at Bletchley Park has allowed us to uncover the stories of wartime code-breaking, many of which have never seen light of day until now,” said Bletchley Park CEO Ian Standen.

“In doing so, we have helped create a world-class exhibition that honours the historical importance of Bletchley, its stories and the people integral to them.”

Block C has been transformed into a vibrant Visitor Centre with a new exhibition – Secrets Revealed, Introducing Bletchley Park. Objects on public display for the first time include papers on code-breaking techniques written by Oliver Lawn and Bombe blueprints.

Bletchley Park was also the birthplace of computer science and the world’s first electronic computer, Colossus. Event Communication has also worked on the design of a new McAfee-sponsored cyber security exhibition entitled Secrecy and Security, that links Bletchley Park’s heritage as the birthplace of computer science with modern day online safety issues.