The Trust is currently working on establishing Trent Park House across the restored stately rooms on the ground floor and the atmospheric basement of the Grade II listed mansion house at Trent Park. When we open depends on several factors (including works to the wider estate and fundraising), but we hope we will be in a position to open by Spring 2024.
Our vision is to create a world-class visitor attraction to highlight the vital role played by the Secret Listeners who were behind some of the most important intelligence discoveries of World War Two. Visitors will travel through magnificently restored and furnished rooms – Sir Philip Sassoon’s socialite and political world – to reveal the later clandestine operation against Hitler’s top military commanders.
Born out of a large-scale public campaign to save the site (the "Save Trent Park" campaign), the Trust is now working closely with Berkeley Homes, the owners of this 50-acre Green Belt site, to deliver the highest quality redevelopment of this much-loved site.
The Trust is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Architectural Heritage Fund among others, and the team includes a number of professional experts to help realise the vision of something extraordinary for the nation. The project was also backed by the Prince’s Regeneration Trust.
Once complete, Trent Park House will become an important link, both in content and geography, between existing attractions such as the Imperial War Museum and the Churchill War Rooms to the south, and Bletchley Park and Bentley Priory to the north – many of which are within an hour’s journey. We aim to work in partnership with heritage attractions in our local areas and also those with strong contextual links with Trent Park. Through our learning and outreach programmes, we are committed to forming meaningful partnerships with local groups where relevant.
The Trust is currently trying to secure the funds needed to deliver the project, working towards strict deadlines set by the site’s freeholder, Berkeley Homes. Please consider making a donation to ensure the Trent Park House becomes a reality.
Eric Mark, Trent Park’s last Secret Listener of World War Two, speaking at the Trust’s reception in the House of Lords (Spring 2019).
Sir David Jason OBE
“Trent Park was such an important establishment during the Second World War and so it would be wonderful to retain the fabric of the place and create a historic landmark as a tribute to the essential work carried out there. In an effort to keep Britain secure in the grips of war, Kendrick was one of the leading intelligence officers working out of Trent Park and so he, in particular, should be remembered with a memorial on site”
General Michael Hayden, former Director of the NSA and CIA
“The British-American “special relationship” has its roots in the two nations’ WW II intelligence cooperation, cooperation exemplified by places like Trent Park. It is heartening for an American to see Britain work to preserve such special locations so that they and the lessons they teach will be available to future generations.”
Fritz Lustig (1919-2017), WWII Veteran and former Secret Listener
“Our work was so top secret that we didn’t really know whether it had any effect on the outcome of the war, as we never got any feedback. Now that the files are declassified it is possible to appreciate that the work of the Secret Listeners played a crucial role in the secret war.”
Historic England
“Trent Park is of considerable national and international historic interest which bears comparison to the code-breaking work at Bletchley Park.” (February 2017)
Member of the Association of Independent Museums