Conservative Controlled Council Give Green Light to New Records and Archives Centre

Historians, researchers and people interested in exploring the county’s historic records collections can look forward to a new modern Archives centre as plans are given the go ahead.

The proposals, approved today by Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet will see the creation of a single, modern Archives Centre, with improved visitor facilities at the Staffordshire Record Office site on Eastgate Street in Stafford.

The state of the art extension would house the County’s records and William Salt Library collections and include a new exhibition space and search room on the ground floor; fully accessible for people with disabilities.  An additional 15 to 20 years expansion room would also be made available in the new three-storey extension with improved storage facilities.

The Conservative controlled County Council will now submit an application to Heritage Lottery Fund for £4m to fund the project, contributing a further £469k.

Cllr Mike Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Children, Community and Localism with Staffordshire County Council said, “We have a fascinating archives collection in the county and I want even more people to be able to enjoy them.

“I am delighted that Cabinet have approved the proposals, which will now allow us to get on and develop more detailed plans for the new centre.  This was our preferred option, allowing us to deliver a much better service to all our visitors, while helping to protect our records for many years to come.

“Before we move any of the collections we are working with Findmypast to digitise over six million records including parish registers, wills and marriage bonds.  This means that visitors will get free access from Staffordshire Libraries as well as the Archive Service offices.”

The service currently has three sites, Staffordshire Record Office and the William Salt Library both in Eastgate Street Stafford and the Lichfield Record Office in Lichfield Library, The Friary.

As part of the proposals, a new service will be put in place at Lichfield, as a Lichfield Local and Family History Centre within the Library.  This will offer access to digitised collections and microfiche sources alongside the local studies collection within the Library.

Over 240 people took part in a public consultation in January, with around 50 people taking part in workshops to view the plans and meet with Records Office staff.