15/7/2009 - Concrete evidence that £8.2m landmark building is on target

There's concrete evidence on the ground of progress being made on Carlisle’s new £8.2m landmark archives centre at Petteril Bank.

In fact contractors Quarmby Construction have already removed 11,600 tons of material from the site and poured in over 2,000 tons of concrete, both above and below ground, as well as erecting over 110 tons of structural steel.

And it is the concrete in the walls of the innovative glass-fronted building which will help to keep the important historic documents safely preserved at just the right temperature and relative humidity. The thermal mass of the solid walls will provide a naturally cool environment to protect the precious papers and photographs.

Work began in January 2009 and, exactly six months into the construction project, building work is scheduled to finish early next year, ready for the expected opening in the autumn of 2010. By this time four miles of documents will have been transported from the current archives office in Carlisle Castle to Petteril Bank.

Archives for the north of Cumbria have been held at The Castle for over 45 years, during which time there has been an explosion of public interest in the gems of information they contain about family and general local history.

County archivist Anne Rowe says that the new purpose-built centre will offer bigger and better facilities for people to carry out their researches and it has been planned with a further increase in use over the next 25 years.

She said: "There has been a significant increase in public use of the archives over the last two decades - a 250 per cent increase in the numbers of people visiting or contacting us with enquiries. Interest in family history is one of the main factors, fuelled by recent television programmes on the subject, although it was happening even before that.

"We might have 30 researchers in the office at any time and we need quite a big open space. The county council’s financial backing, along with a £4.8m Heritage Lottery Fund grant, has been crucial. HLF are monitoring progress on a monthly basis and we have just had a visit from their north west regional head, who was impressed and very pleased with the way it's coming on and what we will be able to do on the new site because of the Lottery grant."

Alongside the new building, the restoration of Lady Gillford’s House, a classic Grade II* listed building, is also taking place. The original part of the house dates back to 1829 and was built for a local solicitor’s family. Its last use was as workshops for Cumbria Industries for the Disabled until about five years ago.

Anne Rowe said: "It is an exciting feature of the project to bring the house back into public use, something that probably would not have been feasible without the archives building project. Local people have a real pride and interest in the house, which is a very interesting building, and it will be a very fitting and integral part of a project which is centred on history."

She predicted that the new building would encourage an even wider audience to get involved in archives. "People sometimes think that archives are a bit dusty and boring. Far from it - original documents can really bring the past to life and it is fascinating, exciting and sometimes quite moving to look through records such as old diaries, letters and photographs."

Academics, schools, individuals simply wanting to find more about their local area or family history are all users of the archives. Part of the Lottery grant is intended for new services including the appointment of an outreach officer to spread the word outside in the community and engage people more with using the collections.

Locals and visitors will be able to enjoy educational facilities, exhibitions, a bookshop, a library link and community spaces, and the billiard room in Lady Gillford’s House will be licensed for weddings. Local sub-contractors have been used on the project wherever possible.

Cllr Gary Strong, Cumbria County Council's cabinet member with responsibility for culture, said: "The project is on schedule and on budget so far. There's plenty of hurdles to get over with a scheme this complex, but overall it is on target and we are looking forward to opening in the second half of 2010.

"There has been a dramatic increase of interest in archives and it has been evident for some time that the facilities at Carlisle Castle were not ideal, so it is exciting to be able to provide a new purpose-built centre and, at the same time, see the restoration and refurbishment of a house which has an important role in Carlisle’s past."

David Jones, Managing Director of Quarmby Construction Company Ltd, said:

"This is a complex and challenging project taking place right in the heart of the community. Fortunately the site team has enjoyed terrific support and interest from residents and council alike whilst the essential ground works have been done. Over the coming months they will get more of a sense of just how impressive the new archive centre will be when it is completed." 

Keith and Pat Harkness, who live in nearby Holmacres Drive, are members of the local residents' liaison group and are looking forward to a chance to tour the buildings later this year.

Keith, a former builder, has been following the progress closely. He said: "Give it a year until it starts to mellow and the new building will look very nice alongside the old house. I am confident that the old and the new will blend well."

Pat Harkness said: "For local people, saving the house, which is such a beautiful building, and bringing it back to its former glory, is more than worthwhile. I think the two buildings will work well together and another benefit of the scheme is the improvement to the footpaths in the area.

"The progress has been amazing and I am looking forward to the tour round the buildings. I have not used the archives before, but I was hoping to research my family tree at some stage and, having the new facility on the doorstep could prompt me to make a start," added Mrs Harkness.

Already staff are planning for the day when they can begin the mammoth task of moving over a million historical items - "an unrivalled insight into places and people of Cumbria from the 12th century through to the present day" says Anne Rowe - to their innovative new base where the past truly will meet the present and the future.

ENDS

Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 226332