Plans to build a new state-of-the art history centre in Crewe town centre to co-host the region’s archives have been approved along with a scheme to transform an area of public space.
Cheshire Archives and Local Studies – which is a shared service between Cheshire West and Chester Council and Cheshire East Council – looks after the county’s unique and irreplaceable written and pictorial history.
The plan is to rehouse the archives in two new state-of-the-art history centres, with one in Chester and one in Crewe.
Plans for a completely new history centre in Crewe – on the site of the town’s former library, next to Memorial Square – have now been given the go ahead, along with a separate application to transform the civic and cultural space between Crewe Lifestyle Centre and Memorial Square.
It will include a new two-storey entrance to Crewe Magistrates’ Court, and it’s expected that work to clear the site of the former library will begin in the summer.
Earlier this month, Cheshire West and Chester Council also received planning approval for a history centre in Hoole, near Chester.
The centres will replace the archive service’s current facility. Together, they will provide a long-term home for Cheshire’s archives and open up the collection to a whole new audience.
Cllr Jill Rhodes, lead for archives at Cheshire East Council, said: “This is fantastic news, and we are now a significant step closer to being able to better protect and share Cheshire’s historic records.
“I look forward to seeing physical works on these centres beginning, and to local people being able to share their personal and communities’ histories by accessing the archives in a way they have never been able to previously.”
Both history centres are expected to be completed by early 2025.
They will have climate-controlled environments and include large event and gallery spaces to host performances, workshops and exhibitions.
In addition, there will be more spaces for people to carry out research, and better spaces for staff and volunteers to work with the collections to make them more accessible.
The delivery of the centres is supported by a grant of £4.45m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which will also support a Cheshire-wide outreach programme.
As well as the new history centre, the plans for Crewe include a new pedestrian link through the town centre.
New planting, lighting and seating will revamp the area and provide a new high-quality space for the public to enjoy.
The project will involve clearing the site of the former library and the structure over the existing Civic Centre car park.
