Museum of Computing finds new premises

A museum dedicated to the history of computing has found a new home after being forced to shut its doors for a year.

The Museum of Computing will reopen in new premises in Swindon in July, showcasing a collection of 2,500 machines — from mechanical computers and slide rules to the first PCs and modern games consoles.

Last June the museum had to leave its premises at a University of Bath campus in Swindon and was forced to put its exhibits into storage.

Museum curator Simon Webb said that the central location of the new premises, provided under a three-year lease by Swindon Borough Council, will attract more visitors to the museum.

Webb told ZDNet UK's sister site, silicon.com: "I am delighted because the exhibits are no good tucked away in old dusty old rooms — they need to be out in the open where people can learn about the history of computing.

"We were already getting about 2,000 visitors a year from all over the world and in our new town-centre location we are hoping to get even more people dropping in."

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The new premises provide twice the space to display the main exhibition and themed exhibitions, which change twice a year.

The good news follows last week's blow to Bletchley Park, home to The National Museum of Computing, after the government refused a request for more funding to support the site while restoration work is carried out.