Publisher helps Wirral Archives celebrate “first birthday”

Aug 26 2009 by Liam Murphy, Heswall News

CELEBRATING a year after its move to a new location, Wirral Archives Service also received a surprise “birthday” present from a local publisher.

Birkenhead-based publishers Countyvise have now presented the archives with a bundle of books on Wirral’s history.

The archives, now based at the Cheshire Lines building in Birkenhead, have seen a 27% increase in users since it was all brought together under one roof.

With specialised storage facilities and protection for the documents it holds, the service has become an important starting point for people researching their family tree or local history.

Head of archives and record management, Ava Wieclawska, said the book donation would “really enhance the library collection in site”.

She said: “We have had a significant increase in users over the last year and we really need to have books like these available to help people with their research.”

The Wirral Archive Service holds the records of the former Cammell Laird shipyard and is also the repository for Birkenhead MP Frank Field’s papers – although the latter are not currently available for public viewing.

Will Meredith, archivist, said the Cheshire Lines facility was much improved over the previous storage for records, which had been at the Wirral Museum and a storage depot in Wallasey.

He said: “Now it’s all in order in the storage room and we have space to expand into.”

Mr Meredith said: “People come here primarily for family tree research and local history – we have census details, burial registers from municipal cemeteries and old newspapers.”

The archive is also developing links with local businesses to expand the Cammell Laird collection with records from other local industries.