Northampton’s history finds more room at expanded archives

Drawings that mapped the streets of Northampton and centuries of vital records are moving into a significant new storage facility at Wootton Hall Park. The Northamptonshire Archives, a joint service managed by West Northamptonshire Council and North Northamptonshire Council, has officially expanded its capacity to preserve the county’s documented heritage.

Half a mile of new historical capacity

The installation of new mobile racking has added an extra half-mile of shelving to the facility. This expansion provides immediate room for approximately 8,000 standard archive boxes, housing everything from 12th-century manuscripts to modern administrative records.

This project ensures the service meets the rigorous standards set by The National Archives. By completing this infrastructure update on schedule, the council has secured enough shelf space to accommodate new collections for more than a decade. The new racks will specifically house records from Northampton Borough Architects, local parish councils, and HM Coroner’s Service.

Public access at Wootton Hall Park

The archives remain a primary resource for local historians, genealogists, and researchers tracking the evolution of the county. The facility at Wootton Hall Park is open for public research and walk-in visits during specific mid-week and weekend windows.

Key points

• Open Tuesday to Thursday: 9am – 1pm and 2pm – 5pm
• First Saturday of each month: 9am – 1pm
• Pre-booking is available via email for those with specific research queries

The expansion was delivered through a collaboration between the West Northamptonshire Council construction team, NDC Consultancy, Bruynzeel, and JPP UK. This technical upgrade follows the service receiving official Archives Accreditation in 2024, confirming its status as a high-standard repository for the region’s most sensitive and significant documents.

Source: West Northamptonshire Council