Cheshire’s archives: a story shared first chapter

Construction starts this month in Chester on the first of two new history centres that will co-host the region’s archives.

A drop in event at the Hoole Community Centre on Westminster Road is being held on Tuesday 12 November between 3pm and 6.45pm for the Hoole community and businesses to find out more about the construction project.

In Chester, the new state-of-the-art history centre will be delivered on the site of the former Enterprise Centre, on Lightfoot Street, Hoole, and is included in the wider Chester City Gateway Masterplan. Construction company Kier begin onsite this month and will start on the Crewe site in January with both new centres opening in 2026. 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.

Residents around the Lightfoot Street site have received a letter sharing more information about the building activities including a help line number. Kier Construction will aim to reduce disruption in the local area by accessing the site via the former Enterprise Centre entrance on Hoole Bridge so that contractor parking and site deliveries can avoid Lightfoot Street.

Working hours on the site will be carefully controlled to reduce any inconvenience and will be from 8am to 6pm during the week and from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays with no work permitted on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

Should work be required outside these times for exceptional reasons, local residents and businesses will be informed in advance. Similarly, should parking restrictions or highways works be necessary, details will be shared in advance.

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

Councillor Louise Gittins, leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, said:

“Chester’s first archivist started working in the city on 1 October 1948. 75 years later and we are marking the start of the next chapter in the preservation of the counties precious archives.

“There has been a lot of work to get us to this stage and a lot of people to thank. I’d like to particularly thank The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Wolfson Foundation for the funding they have provided, also the archivists, and project team but also the many users of the archives service.

“Our archivists and conservators have started the monumental task of packing, protecting and preparing for their move. They have also prepared a programme of new activities across the county until March 2027.”

Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund said:

“It is fantastic news that the next chapter of the Cheshire archives project can begin. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, this project 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.” 

Sarah Morton, Regional Director for Kier Construction North & Scotland said:

“Having successfully delivered the pre-construction work, we are excited to begin the main works on two new history centres for Cheshire West and Chester, and Cheshire East Councils.

“The buildings will serve as vital hubs, safeguarding invaluable collections for future generations while breathing new life into the local area. They have been designed to attract a diverse audience, offering innovative ways to explore local history while enhancing learning and research opportunities.”

Although in-person access at the Cheshire Record Office has now stopped in order to prepare the many miles of archives to be moved 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

About Cheshire Archives:

Cheshire Archives & Local Studies identifies, collects and cares for archives and publications that are the evidence of Cheshire communities’ lives past and present. We deliver access for all to our collections for information, learning and enjoyment and work to make sure archives survive so that future generations will be able to do the same.

http://www.cheshirearchives.org.uk

https://www.cheshirestoryshared.org

Pictured - History Centre interior illustration.