About our service
Volunteers | Service Charter | Collection Policy | Preservation Policy | Public Task Statement | Access Policy
The Cheshire Archives and Local Studies service identifies, collects and cares for archives and publications that are the evidence of Cheshire communities’ lives past and present. We deliver access for all to our collections for information, learning and enjoyment and work to make sure archives survive so that future generations will be able to do the same.
We are a shared service of Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East Councils.
The service is also responsible for delivering the archives service for Warrington and Halton boroughs.
Cheshire's archives: a story shared
Central to our vision for Cheshire’s archives is to provide new premises for the Archives service, its activities and the collections, and bring collections closer to people. The project is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Wolfson Foundation and by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. See the plans and follow our progress on a dedicated project site.
Latest update:
We are really pleased to announce that the Chester centre will open on Wednesday 13th January 2027, with Crewe to follow in March. We will announce the March date near the end of the year, after we have received the keys to the centre. The opening times at both centres will be Wednesday-Saturday, 9.30am – 4.30pm.
In Chester the team are getting ready to move the collections to the new centre in October and November. In Crewe this is scheduled to happen in December. Crewe is nearing completion, with floor covers being put down and decorating taking place. The new interpretation which brings Crewe stories to life through the collections will follow.
You can read more details on the progress of the project on our project website.
Public access to our collections, along with our research and copying services, will resume when we reopen in January and March. In the meantime, many resources remain available online or through libraries in Cheshire East, Cheshire West & Chester, Warrington and Halton.
Find out more about Cheshire Archives
The best way to keep in touch is via our social media channels and our newsletter which you can subscribe to here. You can also get in touch about the project by emailing us at archivesproject@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk.
See frequently asked questions about the move
This website is run in partnership between Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East Councils.
