Staffordshire History Centre, Valued at £8.7 Million, Set to Open

The opening of an £8.7 million history centre, which will house significant archive collections from Staffordshire, is scheduled for this week. Located on Eastgate Street in Stafford, The Staffordshire History Centre will begin welcoming visitors on Wednesday, following over three years of development. Its main function will be to serve as a storage facility for the county’s archives, and members of the public can schedule appointments to view the collections. Staffordshire county councillor Victoria Wilson conveyed to BBC Radio Stoke that she considers the opening a “very exciting moment” for her. She stated, “I cannot wait to throw the doors open to the public so they can look into this little window of the past to see what Staffordshire and history here is all about.” Operating hours for the centre will be Tuesday through Saturday, from 10:00 to 16:00. The newly established centre features contemporary search rooms, secure strong rooms for archives and collections, and an illuminated area designated for displays and exhibitions. It integrates three distinct collections originating from the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service, the Staffordshire County Museum, and the William Salt Library. Patrons will have the opportunity to access archives and artefacts detailing the county’s history, while a newly created education and learning area will accommodate schools, workshops, and various events. Furthermore, a schedule of activities and travelling exhibitions is planned to bring historical content to local communities throughout the county. Joanna Terry, who serves as the head of archives and heritage at the county council, stated that the authority’s team dedicated significant effort to the project. She commented, “We’re all really passionate about what we do, that’s why we’re in this job. We care about the collections and making them accessible.” Funding for the project included a £4.8 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and £2 million from the county council, with the remaining costs covered by Stafford Borough Council and additional donors. Julian Glover, chair of the Midlands and East region at the National Lottery Heritage Fund, remarked: “Across Staffordshire, there’s an amazing range of history – buildings, documents, human stories – and they need to be protected.” Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.