Half a mile of shelves added to county's archives

An extra half a mile of shelving has been added to Northamptonshire's county archives so it will have enough room for the next 10 years.

Important documents about the county that have been kept since the 12th Century are housed in a purpose-built facility at Wootton Hall Park, Northampton.

The extra shelves, which have room for about 8,000 boxes, mean there are now eight miles (13km) of shelving.

The unit currently has about 80,000 boxes of archive material.

Managed by West Northamptonshire Council in partnership with North Northamptonshire Council,

Northamptonshire Archives and Heritage Service said it preserved the county's "unique and irreplaceable heritage".

The archives date back to the 1920s and were stored in the former gaol rooms at County Hall in Northampton.

During World War Two, documents were moved for safekeeping to Brixworth Hall, Green Farm in Cosgrove, and the church at Furtho.

After the war, they were kept at Lamport Hall until 1959 before being moved to Delapre Abbey.

When Delapre Abbey was deemed no longer suitable, Wootton Hall was built and opened in 1991.

James Petter, Reform UK deputy leader of West Northamptonshire Council and cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure, said: "This is a vital investment in the county's memory, ensuring that Northamptonshire's rich and varied story has room to breathe.

"The expansion safeguards everything from industrial heritage and civic planning to coronial records, preserving the paper trail of everyday life alongside the moments that shaped the county's identity."

He said it would ensure the documents were on hand for future generations, "from family historians tracing their roots to students uncovering hidden stories, or residents simply curious about the past beneath their feet".

The facility is open to visitors on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and on the first Saturday of each month.

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