churchill war rooms churchill war rooms museum london branches museum comprises cabinet war rooms historic underground complex housed british government command centre second world war biographical museum exploring life british statesman winston_churchill construction cabinet war rooms located beneath treasury building area westminster began operational august shortly outbreak war europe remained operation second world war abandoned august surrender japan war historic value cabinet war rooms recognised preservation responsibility later time limited numbers public able visit appointment early 1980s asked administration site cabinet war rooms opened public april museum reopened following major redevelopment shortened churchill war rooms construction british government department responsible royal_air_force believed event war enemy aerial bombing london cause casualties week british government commissions sir considered key government offices dispersed central london suburbs non essential offices north west pending dispersal sir deputy secretary ordered survey identify suitable site temporary emergency government centre office concluded suitable site basement government building located corner horse guards road great george street near parliament square building work convert basement began supervision sir june work included installing communications broadcasting equipment sound ventilation reinforcement summer war office admiralty developed concept central war room facilitate discussion decision making armed forces ultimate authority lay civilian government cabinet smaller war cabinet require close access senior military figures implied accommodation close armed forces central war room decided cabinet housed central war room august war imminent protected government facilities suburbs ready war rooms operational august days invasion poland september britain declaration war germany september wartime use operational life cabinet war rooms particular importance operational facility constant use manned clock officers royal_navy british army royal_air_force officers responsible producing daily intelligence summary king prime minister military key room cabinet room opening began prime minister war cabinet met war rooms october following winston_churchill appointment prime minister churchill visited cabinet room declared room direct war total cabinet meetings held cabinet war rooms march german weapon bombing campaign came end october blitz bombing campaign britain decided increase protection cabinet war rooms installation massive layer concrete known slab feet metres thick slab progressively extended spring increased protection enabled cabinet war rooms expand times original size usage war rooms individual rooms changed course war facility included staff private military officers senior ministers rooms telephone operators notable rooms include churchill office bedroom code telephone installed basement connected similar terminal pentagon building enabled churchill speak american president roosevelt washington conference taking place july later extensions installed downing street specially constructed cabinet war rooms churchill office bedroom included bbc broadcasting equipment churchill wartime broadcasts cabinet war rooms office room fitted bedroom churchill rarely slept underground preferring sleep flat directly cabinet war rooms daughter slept bedroom allocated abandonment preservation end war cabinet war rooms redundant abandoned maintenance responsibility march question public access war rooms raised parliament minister responsible considered throw open inspection general public accommodation forms office confidential work carried tour organised journalists march members press welcomed lord shown rooms rooms open general public accessed appointment access restricted small groups 1970s responsibility rooms having passed tens thousands requests visit rooms received year successful atmospheric conditions site dry dusty having detrimental effect rooms historic maps documents prospect raised contents rooms established museum suggested candidates event secured conserve material opening redevelopment approached government asked consider taking administration site feasibility study prepared came museum feeling sufficient resources commit war rooms prime minister known admirer winston_churchill expressed hope rooms opened general election approached initially reluctant museum trustees decided january museum site understanding government necessary resources available initial costs met war rooms intended self supporting rooms opened public april ceremony attended churchill family members staff rooms administered museum behalf responsibility transferred following major expansion suite rooms accommodation churchill wife close associates added museum restoration rooms war stripped storage cost million war rooms site redeveloped biographical museum exploring churchill life museum development cost million raised private fundraising makes extensive use technology metre interactive table enables visitors access material particularly electronic filing cabinet won museum received visitors year museum shortened churchill war rooms june museum entrance redesigned consulting engineers intended act beacon museum new external design included bronze interior showed cleaned restored portland stone walls treasury building steps design described appropriately martial bulldog like fusion architecture sculpture
Churchill War Rooms