Watch as we explore stories behind the records and meet the people who care for them.

North Yorkshire Archive is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a series of special events offering the public a rare chance to go behind the scenes of one of the county’s most important heritage collections.

Journeying through 800 years of history Kimberley Starkie, Senior Manager of North Yorkshire Archives, highlights some of the “treasures” of our collections giving you the chance to take a closer look at some of the unique records that have been collected and preserved by the Archives over the past 75 years.

For the first time, visitors will be able to explore areas usually closed to the public through exclusive tours giving a glimpse into how North Yorkshire’s records are preserved and protected.

The celebrations will run throughout the year, with talks, exhibitions and hands-on activities showcasing the incredible stories which are held in the five miles of records from centuries-old documents to local treasures.

Find out what’s on and how to book a tour on the North Yorkshire archives blog website.

Rachel Greenwood is the Conservation and Digitisation Manager looking after the millions of important documents, which come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and materials. Watch, in the video above, how Rachel explains how to handle these items carefully and store them properly in special packaging, so they don’t get damaged. This helps keep them safe for a long time and makes sure people can still look at them in the future.

Sue Thorn is a volunteer at the Archives – she first came to explore the records herself! Volunteers help look after North Yorkshire’s history. As Sue explains, you can help with old records, gather stories, it’s a great way to learn, help out and discover amazing local history.