Lewes Library offers temporary home for digital archives

Whether researching your family tree or the history of your house, Lewes Library will provide a temporary home to a range of digital archives, which will enhance the comprehensive collections already held at the library.

Digital archives from the East Sussex Record Office are stored on a dedicated computer and include tithe maps and apportionments, estate maps, images of parish registers and documents, probate records and photograph collections.

The information will be available at the Library in Styles Field, Lewes until the Record Office opens in its new premises at The Keep in Moulsecoomb near the Falmer university sites later this year.

“East Sussex Record Office holds a wealth of information and we are keen to allow access to as much of this as possible while work continues on The Keep,” said Councillor Chris Dowling, county council lead member for community services.

The Keep will provide a home for all the archives and historical resources of East Sussex and Brighton & Hove together with the Special Collections of the University of Sussex.

Work started on the £19m facility in October 2011. Construction has now finished and work is underway on moving records into the new building. The Keep is due to open in November.

Appointments to view the digital archives at Lewes Library are not necessary but specific time slots, if needed, are available to book by calling 0345 60 80 196.