Museum of Computing evicted from University

 

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By Matthew Sparkes

Posted on 4 Jul 2008 at 11:38

The Museum of Computing has been evicted from its University of Bath facilities, placing its exhibits into storage having failed to find a replacement venue.

The collection includes more than 2,000 items of hardware and 1,500 related magazines and books, which have now been locked up in office space donated for 18 months.

Speaking to PC Pro in March, museum curator Simon Webb said that going into storage was the "worst possible scenario".

The exhibits were previously housed at the University of Bath's Oakdale campus, but the site was closed down this month, five years after the museum moved in. The property will now be passed on to Swindon Borough Council, who are yet to decide how to use the building.

Webb says that he has received several offers outside of the area, but as the museum relies on local volunteers the attraction would leave Swindon only as a last resort.

Another of the UK's historic computing sites, Bletchley Park, which was the home to the code breakers who cracked the German Enigma code during World War 2 is also in dire straits.

According to its managers the venue is in a "desperate state of decay" and requires up to £1 million in investment for restoration.

Anyone with ideas for a new venue can contact Simon Webb at info@museum-of-computing.org.uk