Trent Park 'House of Secrets' Opens After Restoration

Trent Park House of Secrets has opened its doors to the public following a significant restoration project. The venue, located in Barnet, was a crucial intelligence centre during the Second World War. It housed over 100 high-ranking German prisoners of war, including 59 generals, who were unaware that their conversations were being secretly recorded by a network of hidden listening devices in the basement.

A Dual Legacy Revealed

The newly opened museum aims to showcase the full history of Trent Park. Before its wartime requisition, the stately home was owned by Sir Philip Sassoon, a member of the influential Sassoon banking family. During this period, the house served as a prominent social and political venue, hosting notable figures such as Winston Churchill, T. E. Lawrence, and Charlie Chaplin. The restoration has revitalised the state rooms to reflect their 1930s grandeur, highlighting this pre-war social and political legacy. In contrast, the basement rooms have been preserved to illustrate the clandestine intelligence operation.

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The covert operation involved 'Secret Listeners', many of whom were German-speaking Jewish refugees. Working from concealed basement rooms, they gathered vital intelligence from the captured officers' discussions, providing crucial information to the Allied forces. The museum will display the listening stations, offices, and working areas used by these individuals.

“It means so much that this chapter of little-known history can be told through the museum. To imagine what the Secret Listeners may have felt as they listened to the captive generals upstairs is as important as it is humbling.”

Helen Lederer, Trustee of the Trent Park Museum Trust

Comedian Helen Lederer, who is a trustee of the Trent Park Museum Trust, shared her personal connection to the site. Her grandfather, Ernst, was one of the Secret Listeners, a fact he kept private throughout his life. Lederer expressed the significance of the museum in bringing this hidden history to light.

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Visitor Information

Dr Giuseppe Albano MBE, director of Trent Park House of Secrets, stated that while many visitors will be drawn to the wartime intelligence story, they hope the pre-war history will also be a significant surprise. Lord Cholmondeley and Jason Charalambous, co-chairmen of the Trent Park Museum Trust, noted that the opening follows a decade of fundraising and restoration work. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 5pm, and includes a café, gift shop, and a learning space. The nearest London Underground stations are Cockfosters and Oakwood on the Piccadilly line.