A new chapter for Buckinghamshire Archives

To prepare for the upcoming relocation to High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire Archives will temporarily close to public access from 1 October 2026.

The closure will enable the safe packing and relocation of Buckinghamshire's nationally significant archive collections from Walton Street in Aylesbury to a new purpose-built facility in Denmark Street, High Wycombe, with the service expected to reopen in spring 2027.

Buckinghamshire Archives preserves and makes accessible more than 800 years of the county's history, holding unique records, historic maps, photographs and documents that tell the story of Buckinghamshire's people, places and communities. The move marks an important milestone for the service, whose current premises are no longer able to suitably accommodate and protect the growing collection. The new space at Denmark Street will provide significantly improved storage conditions, enhanced public access, dedicated exhibition and display spaces, and modern facilities for researchers, visitors and staff.

During the closure period, Buckinghamshire Archives will continue to offer a range of remote services for the county’s budding history fans. This includes the Virtual Searchroom, the ‘Ask the Archivist’ online one-to-one service, as well as wider professional advice. The month of November will also see the return of the much-loved Buckinghamshire History Festival with even more opportunities for people in Buckinghamshire and beyond to explore the county’s rich culture and heritage.

Peter Brazier, Buckinghamshire Council's Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, said:

“The relocation of Buckinghamshire Archives to High Wycombe is a significant commitment by the council, involving investing in preserving our county's heritage for future generations. The temporary closure is essential to facilitate the movement of over 3 million items in controlled conditions. I apologise to those put out by the closure; however we have committed to keeping our online remote services such as the Virtual Searchroom and Ask the Archivist available during the transition. I want to thank our Archives team and especially our fantastic archive volunteers who have made this move possible within such an ambitious timescale.

“The new facility will provide a much-improved experience for all who come to do local history research with enhanced reading and research rooms.

Buckinghamshire Archives plays a vital role in safeguarding our shared history, from medieval documents dating all the way back to 1155, through to internationally significant Paralympic collections. I look forward to us welcoming people to the new Denmark Street site when it opens in spring 2027.”

The move into the refurbished Denmark Street space supports the council's wider regeneration and transformation plans for High Wycombe as part of its Estates Strategy. Progress continues to be positive for the new site, where Buckinghamshire Archives will occupy part of the first floor of the building, with a new public entrance created on Denmark Street, in the heart of the town, opposite High Wycombe Library. The remainder of the first floor will be transformed into modern office accommodation.

Further information about the move and services available during the closure period can be found on the Buckinghamshire Council website.