Cheshire’s archives: a story shared - a flying visit
The two new centres will feature exhibition and event spaces
Invited guests met with the teams building the two new centres in Chester and Crewe that will co-host the region’s archives as works really start to take shape to completely transform the county’s archive.
Councillor Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “Cheshire Archives Chester and Cheshire Archives Crewe will be the new homes for our priceless Cheshire Archives collection. It’s with thanks to our funders The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wolfson Foundation that this exciting project can be delivered.
“Two new fly through videos are now being shared on the project website www.cheshirestoryshared.org taking visitors through the buildings giving a flavour of how they will look.”
Cheshire Archives Chester is being built on the site of the former Enterprise Centre, on Lightfoot Street, Hoole, and is included in the wider One City Plan. Construction company Kier started onsite last autumn. The project has been made possible thanks to National Lottery players through The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wolfson Foundation, an independent charity with a focus on research and education.
Cheshire Archives Crewe is being built between the Lifestyle Centre and Memorial Square in the town centre – construction company Kier started on site earlier this year. Both new centres are scheduled for completion in 2026.
Cheshire Archives and Local Studies is a shared service of Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council. It looks after the county’s unique and irreplaceable written and pictorial history, which dates back more than 900 years.
‘Cheshire’s archives: a story shared’, will transform the way the archives service works and open up the collections to a whole new audience.
The two new centres will feature exhibition and event spaces, new research rooms, workspace for staff and volunteers, as well as environmentally stable storage for the archives.
Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It is great news that the work on the two new archive centres is progressing so well. Cheshire is a county that is rich in heritage, and we’re delighted that thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we can support this project to ensure that wonderful history will be preserved for years to come and give local people the chance to explore and uncover the fascinating stories within the collections.”
Sarah Morton, regional director at Kier Construction North & Scotland, said: “We’re proud to be working on these two new archive centres in Chester and Crewe, which will not only protect Cheshire’s rich heritage but also create welcoming, inclusive spaces for the whole community to enjoy.
“These centres are being built with people in mind – from the researchers and school groups who will explore the collections, to the volunteers and staff who will bring the archives to life. As part of our commitment to social value, we’ll also be supporting local employment and training opportunities, helping young people into construction careers, and working with local suppliers wherever possible.
“It’s a privilege to help deliver facilities that will serve generations to come and become a real source of pride for the county.”
In-person access at the Cheshire Record Office isn’t available while the archives are prepared for moving to their new homes, online archive services are still available, and copies of documents can still be ordered and research services requested.
Libraries across Cheshire will continue to provide access to local history books and maps as well as providing free online access to family history websites.
More information on the project can be found at:
https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/regeneration-of-west-cheshire/chester-regeneration/cheshires-archives-a-story-shared