Work begins to save documents from damp after five-year wait

DAMP which has long threatened ancient documents at Sheffield's city archive is finally being dealt with, five years after the chief librarian warned of the building's deterioration.

Material stored at Sheffield Archives in Shoreham Street dates from the 12th century onwards and includes family, business, ecclesiastical and local government records. Among the documents kept at the archive is Sheffield's original markets charter, signed in 1296 by King Edward I.

Sheffield Archives is now set to close from Monday, October 11 until at least "late summer" next year, to allow extensive improvement works to be carried out.

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This includes installing new air-conditioning systems and boilers to "radically improve" conditions at the building, which had deteriorated to the point that mould was growing on some of the documents.

Coun Shaffaq Mohammed, Sheffield Council's cabinet member for communities, said: "It's essential that this work is carried out, as it will ensure the long-term survival of the records held in the city's archives, some of which are hundreds of years old.

"The city's history is important and in many cases these records do not exist anywhere else.

"It's right that we are taking these steps to guarantee that future generations will be able to use these documents, just like we can in the present day."

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A report released back in 2005 warned that historic documents at the archive were in danger of being damaged.

It also claimed the health of staff was being put at risk, due to deteriorating conditions in the building's strongroom.

The city's chief librarian warned at that time that "extensive" work would be needed to cure the damp problem in the building.

A 10-day cleaning programme, also ordered in 2005, found that many volumes stored adjacent to two walls of the building were "noticeably damp" and had "significant mould" present.

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While the works are carried out, all of the documents kept at the archive will be removed from Shoreham Street and put into secure storage.

During that time, a limited service will run from Sheffield's local studies library, which is based in the central library in Surrey Street.

Customers will be able to access film and microfiche material.

A spokesman for Sheffield Council said: "Due to the likely customer demand for this service, it will be essential for customers to book a time in advance at the local studies library.

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"It is hoped that some of the material from the archives can be made available for researchers on a limited basis at the central library from January 4.

"If this does become possible, researchers would need to contact the archives service about 10 days advance of a visit so that the required documents can be brought out of storage."

As well as improvements to the air conditioning system, work at the Shoreham Street building will also include improving the archive system itself.

Coun Mohammed added: "We are also going to use this time to carry out other improvements to our catalogues, including expanding the number of items on the electronic catalogue.

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"This will mean there's access to more material, for more people, for more of the time."

Events, lectures and workshops that currently take place at the

archives will continue while the building is closed, at various locations across Sheffield.

Details of these events will be publicised on the internet at www.eventsheffield.co.uk.

The archives service can also still be contacted on the usual telephone number, 0114 2039395.