The actual building of the computer.

Babbage started work on his difference engine in 1823, this work took place through the funding from the British Government.  

In August 1827 Babbage wife Georgina died, this put back the building of the computer until Babbage returned back to England in 1828.  (He traveled to the Continent).  When he got back into the country the first grant of £1500 was gone.  

Babbage then decided to fund the construction himself as the exchequer could not remember promising further funds, Babbage then had to convince the government to continue with two tons of brass, hand fitted steel and pewter although this was not an easy job.  

In 1829 a group of Babbage's friends got the attention of the Duke of Wellington, and then the Prime minister to help build/fund the difference engine.  The Duke of Wellington visited a model of the engine in December and gave Babbage a grant of £3000.  An engineer Joseph Clement was hired by the government to construct the engine and to overlook the making of any specialist tools.  

At the end of 1830 Babbage decided that he wanted to move the engine workshop to his house, in order to do this he had to fire proof his workshop built where his stables stood.  Joseph Clement was not happy about this (as he wanted to work in his own workshop, Babbage did not also meet his demands on how the workshop should be.)  So Joseph gave up work on the engine and moved all his men.  This meant that work on the engine stopped.

The difference engine.