Latimer House

Latimer House, today a fairly pleasant hotel in the Chilterns, is not especially unique among stately country homes in its long aristocratic history. The site dates back to at least the 12th century, being owned by the Latimer and later the Cavendish families (of Chatsworth House fame). The current building was completed in 1838 by Edward Blore, who also contributed to Buckingham Palace. The mansion's real interest, however, comes from after it was requisitioned by MI6 during the Second World War.

Latimer House was one of three manor houses used during the war to process German prisoners of war. Known publicly as "No.1 Distribution Centre" to hide its true purpose, the manor was designed to extract crucial military intelligence. Officers possibly as high as Deputy Führer Rudolf Hess were intentionally made at home here in hopes that they would spill vital secrets. The house was heavily bugged for that purpose. Officers were also taken on walks around the manor's grounds in hopes of building up rapport and opening up to staff.

Intelligence officers, including German-speaking Jewish refugees from Austria, worked 12-hour shifts here intercepting and translating over 100,000 conversations. This effort was considered so important that Prime Minister Winston Churchill gave an unlimited budget to Latimer House. Furthermore, it is considered to be as important in the war effort as the code-breaking and computing operations at Bletchley Park.

After the war, Latimer House was used as a military college before being sold off in the 1980s. Peculiarly, a clause in the purchase agreement stated that a certain wall in the basement was not to be touched for 50 years (subsequently extended for another 25 years). It is believed to lead to a secret tunnel of unknown purpose...