A museum: not in Swindon.
Local news now: Did you even know there was a museum of computing in England... in Swindon to be exact. Well, there is. However, there might not be for long, which means you won't be able to go and gawp at, "‘A History of Home Computers’... such as Sinclair ZX Spectrum, Atari and Commodore, and Alan Sugar’s famous Amstrad machines" or the "the museum’s current exhibition ’Pong to Playstation’", which focuses on the history of the home games console and is due to tour six other venues in the UK from April 2009".
Why?! Why are we losing out heritage? According to the plea for help coming from the The Museum of Computing in Swindon, despite its sponsorship from Intel, "it is now facing eviction after the University of Bath in Swindon withdraws from the Oakfield campus in July." University of Bath! University of Bah-Humbug more like.
With over 2,000 hardware exhibits (85% of which are in full working order), 2,500 software items and around 1500 books, manuals, specialist magazines and sundry items, The Museum of Computing needs to find a new location in Swindon with 75m² (800 square feet) of exhibition space, disabled access and 100m² (1075 square feet) of storage space. Preferably these would be adjoining premises.
As far as SPOnG is concerned, any museum that claims to be "a jewel in the crown for Swindon", which costs the public nothing to run because it's "run entirely by volunteers on a shoestring budget from donations", deserves help.
So, if you would like to suggest alternative locations, or can offer transport, physical help or funding to support the relocation, please contact Curator, Simon Webb info@museum-of-computing.org.uk or on +44 (0)7939 582544. Simon is coordinating the next move into the unknown and there will be an awful lot of boxes to shift!
Check out the museum yourself, virtually at first... but then head to... Swindon.
Why?! Why are we losing out heritage? According to the plea for help coming from the The Museum of Computing in Swindon, despite its sponsorship from Intel, "it is now facing eviction after the University of Bath in Swindon withdraws from the Oakfield campus in July." University of Bath! University of Bah-Humbug more like.
With over 2,000 hardware exhibits (85% of which are in full working order), 2,500 software items and around 1500 books, manuals, specialist magazines and sundry items, The Museum of Computing needs to find a new location in Swindon with 75m² (800 square feet) of exhibition space, disabled access and 100m² (1075 square feet) of storage space. Preferably these would be adjoining premises.
As far as SPOnG is concerned, any museum that claims to be "a jewel in the crown for Swindon", which costs the public nothing to run because it's "run entirely by volunteers on a shoestring budget from donations", deserves help.
So, if you would like to suggest alternative locations, or can offer transport, physical help or funding to support the relocation, please contact Curator, Simon Webb info@museum-of-computing.org.uk or on +44 (0)7939 582544. Simon is coordinating the next move into the unknown and there will be an awful lot of boxes to shift!
Check out the museum yourself, virtually at first... but then head to... Swindon.
Comments
Daz 31 Mar 2008 16:37
1/3
they should gather some money and build it here in Conisbrough where the Earth Center used to be
deleted 31 Mar 2008 17:06
2/3
our local mesum in bolton, has some great exibits from, dinsoaur bones to a stuffed animals area some egyptology with a mummy and recently in the 20th century part they have added some gaming gear with items such as a Nes and Megadrive and some software and manuals not much but its nice to see its being added into 20th century history now.
PreciousRoi 1 Apr 2008 06:47
3/3
Call MS, mebbe Bill would contribute...say you change the name of the exhibit to from Pong to Halo...
This looks like an extrememly worthy cause and I wish them the best of luck.
This looks like an extrememly worthy cause and I wish them the best of luck.