The World's First Internet-Enabled Park Bench – Bury Saint Edmunds, England - Atlas Obscura
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The World's First Internet-Enabled Park Bench

Bury Saint Edmunds, England

Long before wi-fi, this public seat provided the wonder of being online while outdoors. 

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World's first internet bench Retta (Atlas Obscura User)
World's first internet bench Retta (Atlas Obscura User)
plaque on bench, 2022 Gavin (Atlas Obscura User)
The bench, August 2021 greggc80 (Atlas Obscura User)
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The world’s first internet bench can be found on the grounds of the Bury St Edmunds Abbey Gardens. This forward-thinking marvel was a joint initiative between MSN.co.uk and St. Edmundsbury Borough Council in 2001. The limited technology of dial-up internet was accessed in the arms of the bench, using two covered USB ports. With the advances made over the years (even a small town like Bury St Edmunds has public wifi), the bench is no longer activated.

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Located on the grounds of the Bury St Edmunds Abbey Gardens.

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