Centuries of historic documents to be moved to new home
Centuries of Kirklees’s history are about to move into a new permanent home.
Involving irreplaceable documents and 20,000 cardboard boxes it is a lot more complicated than your usual move.
The West Yorkshire Archive Service Kirklees office is moving around 100,000 items from two different sites into a purpose-built facility in a new library in the town centre.
More than 32,000 items – everything from 35mm slides to parchments, photos, large rolled maps and plans – have already been cleaned, conserved and processed before being carefully packaged for the move.
The collection covers centuries of local history back to the 12th century, from council records and historic maps to business archives, photographs and family history documents.
Archivist Robert Clegg says it is a process that has to be carefully managed: “Everything we hold is unique, it cannot be replaced if we lose it.”
The new library, which is due to open in September, has been built as an extension to the former Queensgate Market building in Huddersfield, which will also house a new food hall.
The hope is that it will bring more life into the town, encouraging people to stay longer and support local businesses.
Mr Clegg said: “It’ll be the first time Kirklees Archives will be held in a purpose built archive store.
“The facility will be state-of-the-art, temperature and humidity controlled and with advanced fire prevention systems. It will be much easier to access and explore the collections. We think that when we have finished we will have 20,000 boxes sitting on shelves in the new facility.”
It is not only family history researchers, local history enthusiasts and academic researchers who take an interest in archives. Increasingly Mr Clegg says people need to source documents when they move house or change home insurance.
“People are having to increasingly provide information about when a a building was built, how it was constructed, what the drains are like. Some people can’t buy a house or get a mortgage unless they can find these records."
They can provide useful information for businesses – a textile company for example might want to look through records for an old design they can repurpose.
The archives are closed, with access limited to records for legal and other urgent purposes where required.
The full WYAS Kirklees public service will reopen in January 2027.
The second phase of the scheme will see the four-storey Grade II listed former library building on Princess Alexandra Walk transformed into a museum and art gallery.
David Shepherd, of Kirklees Council, said: "Bringing the West Yorkshire Archive Service into Our Cultural Heart is an important part of creating a destination that celebrates the heritage, creativity and stories of Kirklees. Archives preserve the history of our communities and make it accessible for current and future generations. We are delighted that they will have a dedicated new home.”