Museum of Computing gets new home

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 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."

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.