Technology to showcase record office's favourite historical treasures

Some of the favourite historical treasures at the West Sussex Record are being showcased using technology to celebrate its 70th anniversary.
Choosing archive documents for the West Sussex Record Office's 70th anniversary (photo submitted). SUS-161006-154922001Choosing archive documents for the West Sussex Record Office's 70th anniversary (photo submitted). SUS-161006-154922001
Choosing archive documents for the West Sussex Record Office's 70th anniversary (photo submitted). SUS-161006-154922001

Archivists asked customers, depositors, volunteers, supporters, and staff to explore the archives and nominate the document they enjoyed the most.

The 70 most-loved records will be posted on a new blog and Facebook page from Sussex Day on Thursday June 16 with the aim of giving residents an insight into the broad and colourful history of the county, celebrating the collections that the Record Office has been caring for in the last 70 years.

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Set up in 1946, the Record Office was originally based at County Hall in Chichester before moving to Edes House in 1968 to accommodate the growing number of collections.

The Miles twins celebrate their birthday. Photo by George Garland in 1952 (photo from West Sussex Record Office). SUS-161006-154912001The Miles twins celebrate their birthday. Photo by George Garland in 1952 (photo from West Sussex Record Office). SUS-161006-154912001
The Miles twins celebrate their birthday. Photo by George Garland in 1952 (photo from West Sussex Record Office). SUS-161006-154912001

In 1989 a new purpose-built Record Office was opened in Orchard Street where it houses more than eight miles of archives dating back more than 1,200 years.

The rich and varied collections include those of the great estates of the county, Chichester Cathedral and Diocese, The Royal Sussex Regiment, the records of church and chapel, towns and villages, businesses and schools.

These archives sit alongside the records of hospitals and courts, organisations and societies, personal and family papers, as well the archives of West Sussex County Council itself. T

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ogether they tell the remarkable story of the history of West Sussex and its people from the earliest written record to the present day.

The Record Office will be hosting an open day in November which will give visitors an opportunity to meet staff, find out more about their work, and explore behind the scenes.

Find the blog at westsussexrecordoffice.wordpress.com and visit the Facebook page by searching ‘West Sussex Record Office’.

There will also be a free booklet featuring the 70 documents chosen to mark the anniversary.

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Copies will be available from the Record Office and local libraries.

Click the following links for the record office’s website, blog, Twitter page, and Facebook page.

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