Conservative Plans to preserve the Cheshire Archives moves forward with Lottery Funding Success!
This project was initiated in 2016 when Cheshire East and Cheshire West & Chester convened to explore the future of the Cheshire Archives.
Cheshire Archives and Local Studies (CALS) is a shared service of Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester. The requirement to relocate the Archives and Local Studies Service had long been recognised by both authorities and a new future service delivery model agreed (Shared Service Joint Committee September 2016). The model identified the need for two new history centres being established in Chester and Crewe.
These new History Centres will deliver improved access to and conservation of, unique and irreplaceable collections, improved service delivery, extended online services and a more extensive activity and event programme. The Project was brought forward to both CEC and CWaC Cabinets and approved in September 2017. The archive ranges from the middle ages to the present day and includes 8km of archives from businesses, schools, hospitals and local clubs and organisations. In addition there are tens of thousands of photographs, maps and books covering all aspects of Cheshire’s history.
Cllr David Brown, (who was the Cabinet Member responsible for initiating this project) explained: “This proposal is really exciting and the centre in Crewe would make our unique, precious and richly diverse archives far more accessible for Cheshire East residents and visitors alike. It would celebrate Crewe’s unique Railway Heritage as well the Borough’s pre-railway history and would help attract many more visitors to the town centre.”
The Heritage Lottery Funding enables both Council’s to proceed to the Stage 2 Development Phase which when completed will allow a further bid to be submitted. If all goes well, building could be underway in 2021!
(Photo: Cheshire East Council: 19.09.2019)
