Academic/Industrial Collaboration: From Chorlton-on-Medlock to Moston, and Back

Although computer hardware and software is beginning to come to the fore in our story, it is more interesting to start by describing the human background: the people and the places. Who are the main players? What are their hopes and fears? How does Ferranti set about manufacturing a very large and complicated piece of equipment at its Moston factory? How does Manchester University, in the quaintly-named Chorlton-on-Medlock district, collect suitable staff together in a new, purpose-built laboratory to which the world’s first production computer, the Ferranti Mark I, can be delivered and put to use? There are teething troubles to be overcome but by the end of 1951 end-users from far and wide were coming to Manchester to use the giant machine to solve problems in science and engineering. Was it all serious stuff? No, there were light-hearted moments which, whilst not computer games as now understood, nevertheless provided some amusement.