Project update : May 2010

Construction of the new Carlisle Archives Centre has been delayed but is now expected to finish during May 2010. Fitting-out will continue for some time afterwards. The building will then be commissioned. The strongrooms will be conditioned to create the right environment for storage and this is likely to take about two months.

Once conditions are right for storage in the new strongrooms, we can start moving documents in from the old Record Office at the Castle and other sites in Carlisle. This is a huge process and is likely to take at least three to four months. The Carlisle Record Office in the Castle is now closed to enable staff to prepare for the move. We have arrangements for alternative service delivery during this closure period.

We will keep publishing information about progress as we cannot be precise about the timescale for relocation until we are sure that conditions in the new strongrooms have the right temperature and humidity for the storage of archives. At present the new Carlisle Archives Centre is scheduled to open in January 2011.