Drawings that shaped Northampton’s streets and records marking life’s most solemn moments are being carefully rehoused in new storage space at Northamptonshire Archives.
Northamptonshire Archives Service07 May 2026
Managed by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) in partnership with North Northamptonshire Council, the Archives house an incredible eight miles of shelving, preserving records that chart the county’s story from the 12th century to the present day.
The new mobile racking has added an extra half a mile of shelving – space for around 8,000 of the service’s standard boxes.
Among the collections destined for the new space are material from Northampton Borough Architects, the county’s parish councils, and HM Coroner's Service - with enough shelf space left over to accommodate new collections for more than a decade to come.
This is a vital investment in the county’s memory, ensuring that Northamptonshire’s rich and varied story has room to breathe.
The expansion safeguards everything from industrial heritage and civic planning to coronial records, preserving the paper trail of everyday life alongside the moments that shaped the county’s identity.
Secure storage allows records to be preserved in stable conditions and made available to future generations, from family historians tracing their roots, to students uncovering hidden stories, or residents simply curious about the past beneath their feet.Councillor James Petter, Deputy Leader of West Northamptonshire Council and Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure
Delivered on time and within budget, the project was completed by WNC’s Construction Team in partnership with NDC Consultancy, Bruynzeel and JPP UK. It also fulfils a key objective agreed with The National Archives when Northamptonshire Archives was awarded Archives Accreditation in 2024.
These additional storage facilities are essential to protecting Northamptonshire’s shared heritage and ensuring important records remain safe, accessible and well cared for.
Our partnership work demonstrates the value we place on preserving local history for our communities, now and for generations to come.Councillor Gregory Wilcox, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Communities
Based at Wootton Hall Park, the Archives welcomes visitors Tuesday to Thursday, from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, as well as on the first Saturday of each month from 9am to 1pm.
Visitors are welcome to drop in, but anyone with questions or who would like to pre-book their visit can do so by emailing [email protected]
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