Hughenden Manor was the country home of Benjamin Disraeli, Queen Victoria’s favourite Prime Minister. The current house dates from the 18th century but it was extensively remodelled by Disraeli.
In World War II the Manor was taken over by the Air Ministry and used to prepare maps for Allied bombing raids. The site was was codenamed Hillside and the location was largely chosen for its proximity to the airfield base for photographic reconnaissance (RAF Benson), the Photographic Interpretation Unit at RAF Medmenham and the Headquarters of Bomber Command at RAF High Wycombe.
The manor itself has a fine exhibition describing its wartime role, installed in the actual rooms used. The exhibition includes original maps that were prepared at the site. Outside the anteroom to a former ice well has been recreated in its wartime role as a photographic darkroom. The actual ice well is believed to be located along a passage leading from this anteroom - at the time of writing blocked by rubble.
The manor is now owned by the National Trust and opens regularly.
