This NYTimes article talks about an effort by the British to build a working model of Charles Babbage's Analytic Engine, a device described by Babbage in the 1830's and which could be argued to be the world's first programmable computer (in concept).
You might need an account to view the article - if you don't have one the NYTimes site allows you to view a certain amount (20 I think) per month after which they cut you off until the next month when you get your next fix/allotment.