TWO new history centres chronicling Cheshire's history could be built as part of a £13 million scheme.

Cheshire Archives and Local Studies, a shared service of Cheshire East Council (CEC) and Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWAC), needs a new home as its current one in Duke Street, Chester, is no longer fit for purpose.

Under proposals due for consideration by both authorities’ cabinets next week, the archive would be rehoused in two new bespoke history centres – one in Crewe and one in Chester.

The £13 million joint scheme, if approved, would see each authority contribute £4.2 million each with the remainder of the money being sought via a bid for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

Cllr Louise Gittins, CWAC cabinet member for communities and wellbeing, said: “Currently the archives service helps over a million people each year, through visits to the record office, outreach events, support for community history projects, services in libraries and through its websites.

“The new proposals will protect our irreplaceable heritage for future generations, whilst also making them more accessible.”

The history centres would be climate-controlled environments to house the collections, better display them and make them more interactive and accessible to the public.

The archive ranges from the middle ages to the present day and includes 8km of archives from businesses, schools, hospitals and local clubs and organisations.

In addition, it has tens of thousands of photographs, maps and books covering all aspects of Cheshire’s history.

Crewe’s history centre would be located at the ‘Old Library’ site in the town centre.

The proposed site for Chester’s new history centre is the former Business Enterprise site on Hoole Road.

Cllr David Brown, CEC deputy leader and cabinet member responsible for archives, said: “This proposal is really exciting and the centre in Crewe would make our unique, precious and richly-diverse archives far more accessible for Cheshire East residents and visitors alike – and would help attract many more visitors to the town centre.

“It would also provide a suitable focus for our extensive railway and engineering archives – which are a nationally significant collection and uniquely central to the story of Crewe as a town."

Under the proposals the new centres would incorporate facilities for exhibitions, events, research and more space for volunteers, while also allowing for the better preservation of the county’s rich written heritage.

The proposal also sees the service developing plans to make the archives more accessible throughout the county through an expanded outreach programme and digital access.

The decisions will be taken at a meeting of CEC’s cabinet on September 12 and by CWAC on September 13.

Subject to funding, the proposed new facilities would open by 2023.