© National Archives

The National Archives has re-opened to the public after completing a £4 million transformation of its reading rooms to accommodate its family records service, and to bring the nation’s archives into the digital age.

All of the National Archives’ family history and historical assets are now available in one place serviced by online resources, but with practical face-to-face support to help researchers make the most of the wealth of information available.

“Our goal is to bring history to life for researchers, whether they are in our reading rooms or online,” said Natalie Ceeney, Chief Executive of the National Archives. “We are leading the world in online delivery – last year 85 million of our records were downloaded, and for every one document delivered in our reading rooms, we deliver 150 online.”

With vastly increased online access and seating capacity in the new open plan reading rooms, visitors will be able to search online sources, microfilm and the world-class research library. Experts will also give lectures in the new talks rooms on subjects inspired by the records themselves or simply on how to research family history.

In keeping with the new online mission, the lectures will also be uploaded as pod-casts whilst visitors’ personal insights on files are to be shared on a ‘Your Archives’ wiki, to make expertise and research available to those working at home or in the office.

© National Archives

“Our customers tell us, that in addition to superb online services, there’s huge value in accessing experts and resources in one place,” added Ceeney. “These new facilities at Kew show that we’re committed to meeting the evolving needs of 21st century researchers.”

As well as the reading rooms a new museum is also being unveiled, which will feature everything from medieval parchment to contemporary pod-cast and will give a snapshot of The National Archives’ role as guardian of the nation’s memory.

At the museum’s centre sits Domesday, the iconic and oldest public record from the days of William the Conqueror in the 11th century. Radiating around this centrepiece are stories of how secret documents are made public and tales of spies, conspirators and family history.