County record office in country’s top ten

The annual assessment system, used by The National Archives, awarded four stars to West Sussex, which puts it in the top category.

The County Record Office, based in Chichester, beat the national average score of 65.5 per cent with a resounding 81.5 per cent.

Assessors looked at the complete range of services offered by record offices. West Sussex scored particularly highly in the areas of preservation and conservation.

“The assessors’ verdict is really good news,” said Deborah Urquhart, Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy, who has responsibility for the Record Office.

“Many of our users often tell us that West Sussex Record Office provides an excellent service, and this national recognition proves they’re right.”