Turing was here … or perhaps he wasn’t
Estate agent in about-turn after questions are raised over blue plaque claiming codebreaker lived there
CLAIMS that a cottage that’s up for sale was lived in by Alan Turing during the Second World War have been withdrawn after local amateur historians disputed the legitimacy of the property’s blue plaque.
London-based Inigo estate agents listed a two-bed property in Simpson, Buckinghamshire, for sale, boasting that it “reputedly served as home” for the war hero. The claims were supported by a blue plaque on the building’s front wall that states he and fellow codebreakers Harry Hinsley and John Tiltman lived there from 1939 to 1946.
The listing boasted that the cottage is “as historically significant as they come” and that it had “recently been awarded a blue plaque for historic interest”. However Inigo withdrew the advertisement after history enthusiasts got in touch to tell them the plaque’s information “wasn’t legitimate”. The estate agent has since removed the image of the plaque and any mention of Turing from the listing.
A spokesman for Bletchley Park, where the codebreakers cracked the Enigma Code and which is a 10-minute walk away, said he did not know whether Turing lived at the address.
An Inigo worker said: “When we put the listing live we had a few members of the public tell us it wasn’t legitimate and we removed the photo because of that. We’re not totally sure on the history of the building and whether there’s absolutely evidence that he lived in the house.”
A Simpson community Facebook group spotted the original listing for the property, which is priced at £425,000 and sparked debate among locals. One said: “Alan Turing didn’t live here! He lived in Shenley. Don’t think there is much evidence for this supposed blue plaque.”
Another replied: “I believe this was reviewed and verified by Bletchley Park but I wasn’t involved in the process.” The user responded: “From recent enquiries made to Bletchley
Park, this is not the case. Hinsley did live here, but not the other two mentioned. If you look at the listing for Turing on their online resources, you will see that they have no mention of him living here either.”
Bletchley Park, which is now a tourist attraction, confirmed it did not commission or verify the plaque. A
Bletchley Park spokesman said: “I can confirm that this plaque was not commissioned by Bletchley Park Trust and hasn’t been reviewed or verified by us.”
The sale listing was updated in October but it earned attention on Sunday when speculative buyers expressed their love for the property and its “quintessentially English” decor.