Agenda item - The Keep

Presentation  by Wendy Walker, Senior Archivist and Programme Manager for The Keep, East Sussex County Council

94.1    Members received a presentation on the Keep from Wendy Walker, Senior Archivist and Programme Manager for The Keep, East Sussex County Council.

94.2    Members were advised that The Keep will be a new state-of-the-art historical resource centre based near Falmer, East Sussex.

94.3   It will provide a home for all the archives and historical resources of East Sussex and Brighton & Hove, and the Special Collections of the University of Sussex, including the internationally renowned Mass Observation Archive.

94.4   The building will also include the library and headquarters of the Sussex Family History Group. This group aims to encourage people to study family history and genealogy and to preserve and publish relevant documents.

94.5   The Keep will house over six miles of archives and historical resources dating back over 900 years. These records document the lives of individuals, places and events from across the community, including:

·         written records

·         maps and plans

·         photographs and films

·         prints and drawings

·         oral histories

·         digital and electronic records

·         local, national and international collections.

94.6   Public search rooms and research facilities will be available for all visitors to use. These facilities will include:

·         Repository block – built to house over six miles of archives with space for future collections. The temperature and other conditions have to be just right to preserve the collections perfectly.

·         Public search rooms and group research areas – for anyone wanting to research and explore the collections.

·         Learning and multifunction rooms – for school classes, student groups and adult learners to engage in interactive and creative learning with archives. These rooms can also be opened out to host a wide range of community activities, including workshops and events for up to 150 people.

·         Oral history recording room – to record and preserve the memories and stories of life, people and events from the past.

·         Staff facilities – including a conservation workshop and a digitisation suite. These will let staff preserve and provide hands-on and online access to the collections.

·         Space to work with staff – for volunteers, students and community groups to work with staff and learn new skills to help preserve the archives.

·         Electronic preservation facilities – equipment and facilities to preserve electronic archives and digital media.

·         Café area – situated on the ground floor, visitors can buy, or bring their own, food and drink.

94.7   The former South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) completed roadworks in the Falmer area that has improved access to the site. These include:

·         a new flyover

·         improvements to the junction of the A27 and A270

·         widening the road from the new junction to the railway tunnel

·         a footpath and cyclepath with CCTV coverage, running along the south side of the railway line from Falmer station to the railway tunnel by Woollards Field

·         widening the access road to Stanmer Park

·         a new link road to the University of Sussex.

94.8   The Keep is a 10 minute walk from Falmer train station, and there will be a new secure and well-lit footpath running from the station to the site entrance. There will also be new and improved bus stops on both sides of the A27 with pedestrian links into Woollards Field.

94.9   The development will have a car park that will include disabled spaces, an area for bikes, and a coach turning point. A new footpath and cycle path will run along the southern edge of Woollards Field. This will join up with the new path from Falmer Station at one end, and the Moulsecoomb estate at the other.

94.10  It was agreed that a visit to the Keep just prior to opening would be useful. Scrutiny to arrange.

94.11    Members were keen for the Keep to link up with local history groups that would want to use the facilities.

94.12    Members also suggested that OPC members might like to participate in oral history projects. Members thanked Wendy for an interesting and information presentation.