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Located on the edge of St. James Park in the basement of the Office of
Public Works (now the Treasury Building), the Cabinet War Rooms became
fully operational in 1939 with the outbreak of World War Two.
Shortly after
becoming Prime Minister in May 1940, Winston Churchill visited the rooms
to see what preparations had been made to allow him and his War Cabinet to
continue working during the anticipated air raids on London. It was here
that he announced 'This is the room from which I will direct the war'.
Churchill attached such importance to the Map Room that his own room is to
be found immediately next to it, with an adjoining door. Here he had his
bed, together with a desk and meeting area. Mrs. Churchill’s rooms are
nearby – including a kitchen.
After VJ day, the Map Room, and all the other underground rooms were left
exactly as they were when the doors were closed for the final time.
Visitors today will see it the way it was left in August 1945, down to the
placement of each book and map pin in the Map Room. Facinating!
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