As Bedford-based business, Conservation By Design, celebrates its 21st anniversary, it has also created a special birthday present to mark the centenary of the Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service.
The conservation storage and display company has designed and made 100 archive boxes embossed with "Bedfordshire Archives 1913 – 2013” at its specialist manufacturing facility in Kempston. The boxes, made of the highest archival standard materials, are designed for the safe long term storage and preservation of important county documents and other artifacts such as books, newspapers, artworks and photographs.
The Bedfordshire Record Office, as it was formerly known, was the first county record office in England. Established in 1913, it holds the archives for the entire county dating from 1166 to the present day.
Stuart Welch, founder of Conservation by Design, presented the boxes to Pamela Birch, conservator at the Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service.
The Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: “It is wonderful for the Archives Records service to receive such a useful present to celebrate its anniversary. We are fortunate to have a major conservation supplier on our doorstep, although their reputation for good service and innovation goes far beyond Bedfordshire. We wish them a happy birthday and many happy returns to come.”
Stuart Welch commented: “The county archives are the oldest in the country and we’re delighted to have used our expertise to help conserve these important records for future generations of local people to learn from and enjoy for decades to come. As we celebrate our own anniversary year, we’re delighted that these centenary boxes will help another local organisation to celebrate their own birthday.”
