CONSTRUCTION is set to begin on two new history centres that will co-host the region’s archives.

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.

The service’s current base, the Record Office in Chester, will close its doors to the public on August 8 so that the whole team with the help of volunteers can prepare the thousands of historical records for the move to the two new centres.

Work to create the two state-of-the-art history centres that will replace it, one in Crewe and one in Chester, is set to begin in the autumn.

The project, called ‘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 history centres will feature new exhibition and event spaces, new research rooms, workspace for staff and volunteers, as well as environmentally stable storage for the archives. 

In Chester, the new history centre will be delivered on the site of the former Enterprise Centre, in Lightfoot Street, Chester and is included in the wider ‘Chester City Gateway Masterplan’. 

The project is supported by funding of £6.4m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible by National Lottery players. There’s further cause for celebration as the project has also been awarded a new £300,000 grant from The Wolfson Foundation. 

Councillor Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “We are celebrating over 75 years of the archives service in Cheshire. The first archivist started work in Chester on 1 October 1948. 

“October 2024 will see the start of building for our new history centre in Chester, one of the Chester One City Plan projects, thanks to the support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wolfson Foundation. 

“As construction starts in Chester, behind the scenes our archivists and conservators will be starting the monumental task of packing, protecting and preparing for their move.

“The National Lottery funding not only significantly contributes towards the new facilities but will help the service to fund a programme of new activities across the county until March 2027.”

In Cheshire East, the history centre will be based next to Memorial Square in Crewe town centre.

Councillor Jill Rhodes, lead for archives at Cheshire East Council, said: “This project follows several years of engagement with residents across Cheshire and will deliver innovative and exciting ways of exploring the county’s past.

“I very much look forward to construction of the history centre in Crewe progressing, and I would like to thank both The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wolfson Foundation for their support, which has allowed this project to reach this extremely exciting stage.

“While an important piece in Crewe’s ongoing regeneration journey, the history centre will help to protect the county’s archives for generations to come and is an asset that those living right across the borough and beyond can access and enjoy.”

Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said: “It is very exciting to see this project get underway. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, we are delighted to be supporting this work that will ensure the archive and collections are preserved for years to come, meaning that local communities and visitors can learn more about Cheshire’s rich heritage.

“We’re looking forward to seeing the project as it takes shape and excited to see its contribution to the wider placemaking plans in Crewe and Chester.”

Paul Ramsbottom, chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: “This is a remarkably exciting and ambitious project. We are very pleased to support the building of two new history centres in Chester and Crewe. These centres will help preserve Cheshire’s historically significant archives and collections, increase access and – through exhibitions and events – inspire visitors.”

Between now and the August 8, to mark the closure of their old building and as a thank you to the many people who have used and worked in the building since it first opened, the archives team will be providing a series of events.

During the last week of opening August 6 to 8, there will be behind the scenes tours, an exhibition showing the building down the years and a special event to mark the final closure on 8 August.

The new centres will open in 2026. The online archive services will still be 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.