Works on Crewe History Centre are underway

Construction has started in Crewe on the second of two new history centres that will co-host the region’s archives, and Cheshire East Council will be hosting a public engagement event this month to update residents on the plans.

‘Cheshire’s archives: a story shared’ - will transform the way the archives service works and open up the 900-year-old collections to a whole new audience.

The two new history centres – the other of which will be based at Hoole in Chester - will feature exhibition and event spaces, new research rooms, workspace for staff and volunteers, as well as environmentally stable storage for the archives.

The project is led by Cheshire Archives and Local Studies, which is a shared service of Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council and looks after the county’s unique and irreplaceable written and pictorial history.

Works started on the Crewe site in mid-January and there will be a public engagement event on Thursday 20 February at Crewe Market Hall. Any interested parties will be welcome to find out more about the works taking place and the archives service, which will be coming to the town for the first time when construction is completed early next year.

The new building will sit within the western half of the current development on the site of Crewe’s former library next to Memorial Square, tying into the boundaries on Prince Albert Street and Crewe Street and the public space areas to the north and east. On the eastern half of the site, works to deliver a car park and a new entrance for the Magistrates’ courts and the first phase of public space enhancements – that form part of a wider programme of projects to enhance connectivity within the town – continue to progress and are expected to be completed in March.

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. It has also been supported by Towns Fund and the Future High Street Fund. 

Councillor Michael Gorman, chair of Cheshire East Council’s economy and growth committee, said:

“I am thrilled to see that construction is well underway and I extend my gratitude to both the National Lottery and the Wolfson Foundation for funding the works and helping us get construction started in Crewe.

“Cheshire has an extraordinarily varied heritage, and these two new archive centres are going to be a brilliant way for us to continue to enjoy and celebrate that.

“The history centre coming to Crewe will mean that people will spend longer and more quality time while they are here, which can only be positive for the town as a whole.” 

Councillor Jill Rhodes, lead for archives at Cheshire East Council, said:

“This is wonderful news not only for Crewe but for the entire borough. This is a very important and significant step for the regeneration of Crewe but the impacts of these works when completed next year, will benefit residents and visitors to Cheshire on a far wider scale.” 

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 have started 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.”

The public engagement event will take place at Crewe Market Hall from 11am - 1pm on Thursday 20th February.

Everyone is welcome to attend.  

While works are in progress at both sites, 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.

Pictured - Crewe History Centre - Artist's impression.