Virtual Tour - conservation unit

The conservation facilities are arranged along the north side of the building where the light is best.

To the left of the loading bay are spaces for unloading, sorting, packaging or boxing archives, books and other material delivered to the building and for isolating and cleaning them if this is necessary. (Archives in the History Centre will be kept in a dust-free environment, but the do not always arrive this way!)

Studios
To the right of the loading bay are the main studios for preservation (protecting material through repackaging) and conservation (treating and repairing documents). This requires a wide range of specialist equipment and large, high workbenches. There will also be a small reprographics studio for photocopying and digitisation.

Visitors will be able to take a behind the scenes tour to see conservation being carried out, on certain days of the year, or by special arrangement.