Archives in Action - Making Connections in Crewe!
Perhaps the most exciting part of our Cheshire’s archives: a story shared project is that for the first time, we will have two new custom-built archive centres, one in Chester and one in Crewe.
We jumped at the opportunity to visit Crewe and see the progress of our new centre there, taking shape in Memorial Square. Hard hats and hi-vis at the ready, we were able to tour the building and get a real sense of each space taking shape. It was great to experience in person what we’ve spent so long looking at on the plans.
Having viewed our new home, it was time to go and meet the neighbours!
A short walk from our new building was our first stop, the PLATFORM:Gallery. Once a branch of Burtons and Dorothy Perkins, it is now a community art gallery and home to CreweCreates. Co-founder and director of CreweCreates, Novae Baghurst, outlined their work to spark creativity and promote Crewe’s cultural growth. We were then treated to a tour of the studio and gallery, where we were inspired by some of the incredible works on display from Crewe’s communities.
Heading back across Memorial Square took us to the Crewe Lifestyle Centre and Library. It was great to see how members of the public already engage with our extensive range of books and pamphlets, maps, microfilms, photographs and other material relating to Crewe and the local area.
Finally, we made our way to the Lyceum Theatre, where theatre director Graham McKnight introduced us to its rich history. Cheshire's only surviving Edwardian theatre, the Lyceum was originally a converted chapel dating back to 1876. The present building was reconstructed in 1911 after a fire. We marvelled at the grandeur of the auditorium and the intricate plasterwork. We even saw, literally behind the scenes, the raked stage (sloping upward away from the audience - one of the steepest in the country), being prepared for the Ukrainian National Opera.
Thank you to Novae and Graham for the warm welcome and fascinating tours. Both of our new buildings will have new spaces for visitors and groups to experience archives. It is exciting to imagine the potential for collaborating with CreweCreates, the Lyceum Theatre, and other partners in Crewe as we take the next exciting steps in our Cheshire’s archives: a story shared journey!
