Cheshire East Council held a public exhibition on plans to deliver a 'state-of-the-art' Crewe History Centre - located within the town centre.

The new history centre would replace Crewe's former library, facing onto Memorial Square - providing access to the Cheshire's archives for all.

The library would be demolished, along with the Civic Centre car park - being replaced with a new history centre, car park and new public realm.

The former library, Memorial Square, would be demolished to make way for Crewe History Centre (Ryan Parker).

Yesterday (July 14), Nub News went to the council's pubic exhibition to o find out more details.

This exhibition was held inside Crewe Market Hall by the project team - allowing the chance for people to have their say on the proposals.

What was discovered?

The proposed development, if approved, would be funded by Cheshire East Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council - alongside the National Lottery Heritage Fund

Funds are currently still being sought through a bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

It is intended that two separate planning applications will be submitted in October this year.

The view of Memorial Square from the steps of Civic Centre Car Park. A new car park would be constructed alongside new public realm (Ryan Parker).

One would be for the new history centre, with the other for a new car park and new public realm.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund decision will be made by December 2022.

If the funding bid is successful, Cheshire East Council says it is expecting the project timetable to start in Autumn 2023.

The council then hopes the new Crewe History Centre would be completed by Winter 2024/early 2025.

What are the benefits of this development?

An artist's impreesion of the new Crewe History Centre from Memorial Square (Cheshire East Council).

The Crewe History Centre would specifically reflect the story and heritage of the communities of Crewe.

It would provide a climate-controlled environment to house the collections, better display them and make them more interactive and accessible to the public.

Cheshire East Council say the new history centre would provide a series of key benefits:

• Deliver a high-quality development, which will have a positive impact on the visual appearance of Crewe town centre.
• The efficient use of a previously developed Crewe site.
• Provide opportunities for people to interact with the unique Cheshire Archives collection more easily, helping people to celebrate their own as well as Crewe's history.
• Provide more space for activities and programmes - bringing the county's history to a wider audience.
• Create improved spaces for staff and volunteers to work with collections to make them more accessible and allow an increased number of volunteers.

The new exhibitions would use the archives to chart the development of the Crewe area over the past 800 years.

An artist's impression of what Crewe History Centre would look like close-up from Memorial Square (Cheshire East Council).

There will be a large event and gallery space for the hosting of cultural exhibitions of regional and national interest, workshops and talks.

Crewe Nub News will continue to update residents on developments within their town.

READ MORE: Mayor of Cheshire East proud to be involved in this weekend's Crewe 'multi-cultural event.'

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