Residents are being invited to visit Hoole Community Centre on Wednesday (21st September) between 2pm and 7pm to see plans for a new history centre.
They’ll be able to meet with the team behind the project and ask questions about the proposals.
Known as “Cheshire’s archives: a story shared” the centre will be the new home for the county’s archives service when it moves from Duke Street in Chester.
They’ll transfer to a new home on Lightfoot Street in Hoole, on the site of the former Enterprise Centre.
The Archives and Local Studies Service is a shared service with Cheshire East Council, and both authorities say there is a need for it to relocate.
The new service will provide two new history centres – one in Chester and the other in Crewe – as well as improved delivery in libraries, better online services and a more extensive activity programme to reach people across Cheshire.
The archives team identifies, collects and safeguards important documents that record details about life in Cheshire.
Their collections are available for learning and enjoyment, and the service is tasked with protecting the archives for future generations.
Recently, they’ve been piloting new digital activities and tools to engage more people in their work, as well as involving a more diverse range of people.
The archives team have developed online exhibitions for LGBT History Month and Black History Month, as well as web-based training for community history groups.
An online training programme has also been produced for library staff to help them develop their knowledge about the local history collections in their libraries – and to support people who visit libraries to research family history and local history.
Over the past year, the archives service has been speaking to hundreds of people across Cheshire to gather their views about the proposed new service, through online surveys and in-person events.
Funding
Cheshire West and Chester Council is putting £10 million into the project, and this is being matched by the same amount from Cheshire East Council.
The overall project will cost more than £26 million.
Consultations, design work and business plans have been completed following a £500,000 National Lottery Heritage Fund grant.
In addition, a further funding bid has been made to the National Lottery Heritage Fund – with a decision due in December.
It’s expected a planning application for the scheme will be submitted in October.
Construction work could start in 2023 and the new centres in Chester and Crewe could be open by late 2024 or early 2025.
Nationally important archives
The proposed centres will be home for the unique and nationally important archives documenting the lives of Cheshire’s communities spanning almost 1,000 years.
Cllr Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said: “Chester has hosted the archive services for over 70 years, but our current location is no longer able to meet the expectation and requirements of the many people who access this service.”
She invited residents to view the plans, or to complete an online survey to express their views if they can’t attend th drop-in session.
She added: “A further event is being planned for October to introduce people to the archives service and how it can help you take first steps in family/local history.”
The online survey is available for four weeks from 21st September via the following link: www.avisonyoung.co.uk/planning-consultations
