Cumbria County Council : News Releases : 2007 : July : 12/7/2007 - Carlisle people asked to record their views on landmark historical project

People in Carlisle are being given the chance to put the finishing touches to plans for the city's brand new 21st Century Public Archives Office.

In March last year, the Heritage Lottery Fund agreed in principle to provide Cumbria County Council with £4.79 million towards a new state-of-the-art archives centre in Carlisle - the largest grant the fund has ever awarded in Cumbria.

The county council is also investing more than £1 million in the scheme which will see the disused Lady Gillford House at Petteril Bank redeveloped into a modern, high-tech archive, exhibition and research centre to service the needs of people in North Cumbria.

More than one million historical items will be relocated from their current home in Carlisle Castle to the new centre which is expected to open its doors to the public in spring 2010.

From lunchtime on Friday 13 July to Friday 20 July, people will be able to view the detailed plans for the new historical facility when they go on display at the Community Café at Petteril Bank School. Here they have the chance to help choose the final materials, colours and textures for the external appearance of the redevelopment as well as the landscaping that will help form the link between the existing and new buildings.

The plans will also be available to view online at www.cumbria.gov.uk/archives (there is a link to the site at the bottom of this page) and on Monday 16 July from 7:00pm, the scheme's architects will be at the school to present the plans and answer any questions from members of the public.

English Heritage have been closely involved in the detailed design of the scheme's modern extension which they want to be distinctive in style from the historic building.

Once the Heritage Lottery Fund is satisfied with the plans, and the necessary planning and listed building consents have been obtained, construction work is scheduled to start in 2008.

The Archive Service's collection of historical records dates back to the 12th Century and includes the Royal Charter of the City of Carlisle from 1316 which bears the seal of Edward II.

It has been estimated that if laid end to end, the entire collection would stretch over three miles.

The new centre will bring much needed investment back to one of the more deprived areas of the county and provide the facilities needed to exhibit the rich archival history of North Cumbria to a wider public.

Councillor Roger Bingham, cabinet member responsible for the county council's Archives Service, said: "The new Archives Office will increase access to heritage and education by providing a seamless link between the present and the past.

"The new facility will include spacious rooms where people can browse historical records in comfort and provide cultural community activities for local people of all ages. The design will also provide improved cycle and pedestrian links to the Petteril Valley.

"At every stage of this important project's development, we have sought the public's help and views: from preparing our initial Heritage Lottery bid to assisting with the mammoth task of re-wrapping thousands of historical records prior to their move to the new archives centre.

"Now we are asking people to assist us once again by helping to put the finishing touches to the scheme's detailed plans prior to their submission to the Heritage Lottery Fund for final approval later this month."

Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337

1. The Cumbria Archive Service has four public record offices at Barrow, Carlisle, Kendal and Whitehaven. It is one of the busiest archive services in the country, with over 18,000 personal visitors from all over the world last year.

2. The Carlisle office of the Archive Service is currently based at Carlisle Castle, its home for the past 45 years. The service has outgrown its accommodation at the Castle and a new home is needed.

3. The site of the former Cumbria Workshops for the Blind at Lady Gillford House, Petteril Bank, Carlisle, was chosen as the preferred site for the new Public Record Office after an extensive review of potential sites by Cumbria County Council in 2004. The house is a Grade 2 listed building. The site itself is owned by Cumbria County Council.

4. The application for funding to HLF is for up to £4.79 million. The remainder of the total project cost of £6.34 million is being met by Cumbria County Council, other grants, donations and 'in kind' contributions.

5. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up the nation's heritage for everyone to enjoy. HLF has supported more than 16,600 projects, allocating over £3.3 billion across the UK.

6. The image(jpeg) shows an artistic impression of the new Carlisle Public Archives Office.