The National Archives Centre for Heritage Science and Conservation Research

The National Archives (TNA) is the official archive and publisher for the UK Government, and for England and Wales. Our mission is to collect and preserve the record, to use our expertise and knowledge to connect people with their history, and to lead, partner and support archives at home and worldwide in developing a sustainable and innovative practice.

Ensuring archival collections are available for access is TNA's foundational mandate and our growing programme is a key component of this mission.

TNA is unique in the UK GLAM sector as an archive with a recognised HSCR team and an established laboratory. We are driven by developing the vast potential of heritage science and conservation research within and of the archive, and of serving our community through collaboration and knowledge advancement. As the archives sector leadership body for England and Wales, we have deep insight into the research trends and needs of our community and can provide advice and guidance, access to technical expertise and analytical services, and develop a rich and diverse ecosystem of knowledge-exchange and partnerships.

Over the past five years, we have created and implemented workflows that enable rapid, efficient, and generous access to our expertise and equipment. These include (1) travelling with our equipment off-site to support research in organisations that lack capacity and capability, (2) hosting researchers and their equipment at TNA to analyse our records, (3) travelling with our collection items off-site for analyses elsewhere, and (4) hosting collections from other institutions at TNA for on-site analysis.

Through a flexible assessment structure for Sampling Requests and a tiered fee structure for access to our equipment and expertise, we have been able to meet and expand demand for collaborative HSCR.

These developments have demonstrated the need and growing demand for innovative research in archives and libraries. Our laboratory was not purpose-built to accommodate analytical and imaging equipment, nor for teaching and engagement activities. Our staff capacity is also insufficient to meet the demand from the sector for individual analyses and short-term collaborative research projects.

With this proposal to RICHeS, we are requesting funds to

Upgrade our HSCR facilities: extend the analytical laboratory to accommodate existing and newly acquired equipment; modernise the dry/teaching laboratory; enlarge our strong-room facilities to accommodate incoming collection materials for analysis

Acquire analytical and imaging equipment to complete and complement our existing research capability: Hyperspectral Imaging System, Scanning X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer

Create one heritage scientist post to coordinate and grow archives and libraries sector engagement with RICHeS through training and knowledge exchange, deliver access to our services, and monitor the impact of our activities

Our ambition is to serve the broader HSCR community and to become an integral partner within a cohesive and coherent national infrastructure for our sector. As archives sector lead, we plan to expand access across the archive and library landscape in the UK and abroad by capitalising on our extensive network of partnerships. Our laboratory will promote challenge-led research to address topics relevant to book, paper, parchment, photograph, and textile conservation, and that are transferrable to collections well beyond our own.

In tandem with our Project Partners, we will provide complementary access and training and support smaller organisations as we move towards sustainable, impactful, and ethical care for our national holdings.