Latest News from Cheshire Archives and Local Studies
Welcome
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Progress on the new archive centres
During November the team has been visiting the new archive centre in Chester in small groups to see how the building is taking shape. We've had updates on progress and actually set foot in spaces like the stage area, the searchroom and the conservation studio!
Wednesday 19 November was crossed finger selfie day on social media. It is a way of thanking National Lottery players who contribute to so many good causes across the UK. We took the opportunity to capture our thank you on one of the site visits last week.
Gems Update
This month, the continuing search for archive Gems turns to Macclesfield. In addition to working our way through a selection of Macclesfield films provided by the North West Film Archive, previously unseen negatives, and Silk Museum oral history recordings, we will also be reviewing a list of potential Gems and local stories as suggested by the Macclesfield History Hunters.
If you’d also like to help us decide which Gems will appear on our new website, follow the link below to our latest survey where you’ll be able to choose your favourites from a selection of potential Sandbach Gems. From Brunner Mond to Sifta Salt, the Crosses to Sandbach Market, the final choice is yours!
Sandbach Gems
Our latest stories shared
We’ve been busy working through more than 700 different collections of Methodist and non-conformist church records, to determine which go where when we move to our new buildings in 2026.
The Collections Story - Moving Methods
Cheshire Archives has many records about the boat building and trading history of the River Weaver, but our new oral history project will capture how the river has been transformed by leisure and environmental conservation.
Archives in Action - Navigating the Weaver
The latest update on our Gems films project! A small team have been looking at moving image clips from across Cheshire and have made a shortlist of films for Northwich and Sandbach, and we’d like your help to make the final selection!
The Gems Story - The Thursday Movie Club!
We have a new Living Memory project – this time we’re ‘mining for memories’ about Leighton Hospital in Crewe. We’re inviting anyone with a connection to the hospital – from working there, visiting or even listening to the hospital radio - to join us to reminisce, share stories and record these memories for future generations.
Archives in action - living memory: we’re back - this time in Crewe!
Over the last two years we’ve been working with CHAWREC (Cheshire, Halton and Warrington Race and Equality Centre) to capture the experiences of people from many different countries who have made Cheshire their home. We recently celebrated the end of this important project, and we're delighted to share this final project update
Archives in Action - Celebrating Journeys to Cheshire
Cheshire Halton & Warrington Race & Equality Centre