County's heritage goes on show at new centre

Hidden documents and historic archaeology can be seen by thepublic when Somerset's new Heritage Centre opens on Monday.

The Somerset Heritage Centre houses all the material formerlyheld at Somerset Record Office, as well as the museum reservecollections, the Somerset Studies Library, Historic EnvironmentRecord and much more.

The centre gives access to more than 10 million historicdocuments and books and three million museum objects.

There is also information on more than 30,000 historic sites inSomerset.

The strongrooms provide a temperature and humidity-controlledenvironment for Somerset's extraordinary collections of historicalrecords, the earliest of which date from the eighth century.

Somerset county councillor Christine Lawrence, cabinet member forcommunity, said: "This is a wonderful new building, housing thesources of Somerset's history under one roof.

"It will allow the public to learn about Somerset's history andheritage as never before."

The centre in Taunton will be open on Mondays from 1pm to 5pm,Tuesday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and on alternate Saturdays from9am to 4pm.

Visitors are advised to make an appointment by calling the centreon 01823 278805.