It took 38 years for radio to reach 50 million users. The internet got there in 5 years flat. That's why we're keeping up to speed with digital developments.

History

In 1939, the Government Code and Cipher School (GC&CS) was established at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire. Set up to help crack Nazi ciphers (codes) it was home to two of the earliest 'super' computers:

  • The Bombe. Designed by mathematician Alan Turing, this electromechanical machine helped crack the impenetrable 'enigma' code (celebrated in the major film of the same name).
  • Colossus. Built by Max Newman, this was the first programmable electronic computer. The size of an average living room, it had approximately the same computing power as today's desktop PCs.

The development of this technology, supported by many fine intellects, helped change the course of the war, and lay the foundations for today's GCHQ - which is still developing technology, and using it to help protect British interests. When GC&CS was disbanded after the war, GCHQ came into being shortly afterwards. Initially based in London, it relocated to Cheltenham in 1952.

For further information on the history of GCHQ, please visit our corporate site.