Old office block could make way for new home of Lincolnshire Archives

Lincolnshire County Council is interested in buying an unused office block near Danesgate, in the Cultural Quarter of Lincoln, which could be turned into the new home of Lincolnshire Archives.

The archives were established as a county service in 1948, bringing together the records collected by the Lindsey, Kesteven and Holland district councils, and the Lincoln Diocesan Record Office.

The service is now part of Lincolnshire County Council’s Economy & Culture department and is based in modern offices in St Rumbold Street, off Broadgate in Lincoln.

However, The Lincolnite understands Lincolnshire County Council is considering moving the archives to new purpose built premises in the future in the Cultural Quarter of the city, near The Collection and Usher Gallery.

The council is interested in purchasing Crown House, a former office building on Grantham Street, near Danesgate, which could become the new home of the archives.

The property has a rateable value of £94,000, spanning 1,411 sq m (15,188 sq ft) over three floors, including the boiler room.

Kevin Kendall, Chief Property Officer at the County Council, said: “The purchase of the Crown House would give us an opportunity to further develop the city’s Cultural Quarter, building on the success of The Collection and The Terrace.

“There are no firm decisions on exactly what the building will be used for, but it could potentially be a future home for Lincolnshire Archives.

“However, in the short-term, it is likely to be used as office space as we work on using our properties as efficiently as possible,” he added.

The Lincolnshire Archives on St Rumbold’s Street in Lincoln. Photo: Lincolnshire Heritage Forum

Lincolnshire Archives offers a public search room where people can consult original archives, microfilm resources and library material relating to the county and its connections to other parts of the world.

Records held by the archives have been named as amongst 38 national collections designated as having outstanding national and international importance.

The Bishops Rolls and Registers, dating from 1214/15, form the core historical records of the diocese of Lincoln, and are of national and international significance.