And we’re off!

Following on from our recent Heritage Lottery bid success, partners, volunteers and guests gathered at Gloucestershire Archives on 25^th February to formally launch the next phase of “For the Record”.  This will run until 2020 and initially see the creation of the on-site Gloucestershire Heritage Hub at Alvin Street.

We also took the opportunity to celebrate the work we’ve done so far, and consider what the project means to the various partners involved.

“For the Record” partners launching the next phase of the project

Gloucestershire Family History Society will be the first point for contact for family history researchers in the new Hub.  They’re particularly looking forward to the new facilities that will be available to help them support users.

For Gloucestershire Local History Association, opportunities to promote and strengthen local history by offering space for groups and communities to work together will be a particular highlight of the new Hub.

As well as anticipating new ways of working and collaborating, there was also excitement about what “For the Record” will mean for historic Gloucestershire’s documented history.  The Diocese of Gloucester expressed their delight that core parish records will be secure for future generations.  Equally, the Police and Crime Commissioner was excited by what we’ll be able to learn from 177 years of Gloucestershire Constabulary’s records, as we work to make them more accessible.

Much will be changing at Alvin Street and we’re all looking forward to what our future partnerships will bring.  There’s still going to be a lot going on while we create the on-site Heritage Hub facilities though, and we’ll tell you more in the coming weeks.

There’s going to be a fair bit of disruption at Alvin Street while we develop the Archives’ building into Gloucestershire Heritage Hub.  We’ll also be sharing stories about how things are going as the work progresses.

In the meantime please visit Gloucestershire Archives’ website (www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/archives/news) to find out more about changes to their service, and how they will affect you.