New Burdens exhibition
- 17th March 2026
An exhibition which summarised some of the records catalogued as part of the New Burdens Project was displayed until 31st March 2026. Whilst this has now passed, you can view images from the exhibition below.
Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service secured £73000 in 2022 from The National Archives’ (TNA) New Burdens fund to catalogue and improve access to certain public records under The Public Records Act. The act requires certain public bodies to transfer records of historical value for permanent preservation to their archive services appointed as ‘places of deposit’.
Following a change in legislation since 1 January 2015 specified local public sector organisations (magistrates’ courts, prisons, coroners’ courts, NHS bodies and some arms-length bodies including the Environment Agency) must now transfer records selected for permanent preservation to a place of deposit at 20 years instead of 30 years after their creation.
Petty Sessions records displayed as part of the New Burdens Project exhibition on Level 2 at The Hive © WAAS
Adrian Gregson, County Archivist said
‘The New Burdens funding from The National Archives (TNA) recognised the impact that the reduction of the traditional 30-year closure period on archives would have on some local authority Record Offices. It was a welcome boost to assist in making available Public Records in local Places of Deposit. A Place of Deposit Record Office is one Accredited by TNA to hold Public Records and Worcestershire Archives has held that status since its inception in 1947.’
Bankruptcy records displayed as part of the New Burdens Project exhibition on Level 2 at The Hive © WAAS
The project which began in April 2024, is now coming to a close at the end of March. During this time, the project has led to the cataloguing of a wide range of public records, including railway plans, magistrate and county court records, coroners records and patient case files. This exhibition aims to demonstrate the impact of some of this cataloguing work on the accessibility of these public records and the ways in which they can be used for researchers, including, for the purposes of local and family history. It is important to note that whilst certain sensitive records have been used in this display, such as bankruptcy, or court records, which are over 100 years old, more recent records held with us may still be restricted or closed as part of access and privacy legislation.
We would like to also take this opportunity to thank the individuals, community and public sector organisations whom we have worked closely with during the project to improve overall accessibility to these public records, whilst combining them with other relevant records held with us.
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