29/04/2016 - Permalink

Shropshire Archives opening hours to remain largely unchanged

Related topics: Leisure, culture and heritage

Following a consultation on opening hours at Shropshire Council’s Shropshire Archives, the service’s opening hours will remain largely unchanged.

After feedback from the public, and The National Archives, who have a legal role in regulating archive services across the country, Shropshire Council has reflected on the original proposals and has agreed that the service will be open as follows:

  • Wednesdays 10am-4pm
  • Thursdays 10am-4pm
  • Fridays 10am-4pm
  • Saturdays once a month 10am-4pm.

This amounts to 19.5 hours a week, compared to the 20 hours currently offered.

The Saturdays once a month opening is a change from the existing opening pattern, of every other Saturday 10am-2pm. There was strong support for opening on Saturdays in the consultation, but the current service is not well used. It is hoped that opening on Saturdays once a month, for a longer day, will prove popular with customers.

During opening times, the service will be enhanced from the current position, with access to original archive documents available during all opening hours. At the moment a library-style service operates from 2-4pm on Thursdays and Fridays. The opening hours will be reviewed in six months, particularly with regard to the Saturdays once a month opening.

Over 160 responses were received to the consultation and the new pattern of opening hours will be introduced from June 2016.

Stuart West, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for leisure and culture, said:-

“I am delighted that we have largely been able to retain the current opening hours provision at Shropshire Archives. We hope that the public will continue to enjoy using the service to explore Shropshire’s fantastic history and heritage.”

For further information telephone 0345 678 9096, email archives@shropshire.gov.uk, or visit the website www.shropshirearchives.org.uk.