Wolverhampton City Archives
Wolverhampton City Archives and Local Studies holds all archives for the City of Wolverhampton
| Authority | Wolverhampton City Council |
| Location | City Archives, Molineux Hotel, Whitmore Hill, Wolverhampton. See map |
| Membership/ID | Archives Card |
| Photocopy policy | Permissive; pay-per-copy |
| Camera policy | Registration required at reception desk |
What is held here
The Archives is the main resource for the City Council's archives and documents. It also holds some items from elsewhere in Staffordshire where appropriate. There are reasonably extensive holdings of the regional Express and Star newspaper as well as other relevant local bodies.
How to use it
The Archives are located in the historic Molineux Hotel just north of the Inner Ring Road and right behind the Jack Harris Stand (South Bank) of the Molineux stadium. The Archives has its own free car park hidden away behind the building and accessible via Whitmore Hill, which itself is only accessible southbound along Waterloo Road. If you are using the car park, you must register your registration number at reception. Alternatively, park anywhere you like in the city centre, or access via public transport - the main High Level railway station and bus station are both close enough to be accessible on foot. There's no food or drink available in the Archives themselves, but as it's basically right in the city centre, there's plenty of choice there.
You need to hold an Archives Card to visit. If you don't hold a card, the helpful reception staff will sort you out with one, but it's recommended to apply online before you go. Bags and coats must be placed in a locker on the ground floor, whilst the archive retrieval facilities are on the first floor.
Most items can be ordered via the main desk. There are some "public access" books stored reference library style; and there's also a Map Room, which sounds more impressive than it is, but it has a nice large table in the middle of the room, and is a lot quieter than the main room. Most maps in the map room are not for public access, despite the cabinets all being unlocked and no staff being based in that room...
Items are requested by completing small slips of paper with item number, title, and your name and ticket number. Most items have to be retrieved from a back room, so there may be long waits. Note that it's a lot easier to take your own laptop to use the online catalogue than trying to use one of small number of PCs.
The Archive also holds the records of the former West Midlands Metropolitan County Council, although they merely store there and Birmingham City Council is the lead authority. Beware that the WMMCC Archives are completely unindexed.
Items found here
- Full information regarding the Inner Ring Road
- Copies of 1950s and 1960s Development Plans
- Copies of WW2 plans for post-war development, including upgrades to road system in city
- Many newspaper cuttings relating to M6, M54, Western Orbital and Bilston Link Motorway
