Our latest recruits at the Archives
Gloucestershire Archives has a proud tradition of training and supporting people who are interested in pursuing a career in the heritage sector. We are delighted to introduce our latest recruits.
Ella is our Trainee Archivist. Based within the Access and Engagement Team, she helps to manage Reception, Document Control and Document Production. She also plays a key role in supporting communications for our online and off-site events. Alongside these duties, Ella is learning how to accession and catalogue incoming deposits and donations.
If that were not enough, she has recently begun studying for a Master's degree in Archive Administration at the University of Dundee through distance learning. In two years' time, she will be a fully qualified archivist.
Eleanor is our Apprentice Archives Assistant on a fixed term, two year post funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the Sounds of the South West project.
She is also involved in the core functions of the frontline team, including Reception, Document Control and Document Production, while undertaking the LIAS Level 3 Apprenticeship. LIAS stands for Library, Information and Archive Studies.
Over the next 18 months, Eleanor will study a range of modules covering subjects such as copyright, cataloguing, governance and customer service, equipping her with the knowledge and skills needed for a successful career in the archives and heritage sector.
Collectively, they are working on Gloucestershire Archives’ new ‘Engagement Charter’, which will help us ensure that our events and training sessions are welcoming, accessible and inclusive for everyone. More information will follow in due course.
We wish both Ella and Eleanor every success in their studies and careers, and we look forward to seeing them develop and thrive within the profession.
Have Your Say!
We are really keen to hear your comments and suggestions about our Service. Our visitor survey, an annual requirement for all public facing County Council services, is now open and runs until 7th December.
Please take the online survey here - Visitor Survey 2026 or you can pick up a paper copy from main Reception.
Thank you for taking part and we look forward to welcoming you at the Hub throughout the coming year and beyond.
Press play on the Sounds of the South West
From sea shanties and local dialects to personal memories, the rich history of our region is now ready to be played. Hear it come to life online in newly available recordings. Discover the south-west’s diverse audio history on the new Sounds of the South West website.
Sounds of the South West is a National Heritage Lottery funded project, led by Bristol Archives but involving archives across the region, including Gloucestershire Archives, to digitise, preserve and share 8,000 historic recordings over the next three years. With the audio originally recorded on formats now at a high risk of deterioration, this work is vital to ensure the recordings can be listened to by generations to come.
The new website offers an introduction to the project and the fascinating collections being preserved. Over the coming months, selected recordings will be made available online, giving everyone a chance to hear the voices, music and stories that have shaped the South West’s past.
To get listening, visit Home - Sounds of the South West
Discover History through original sources: New GCSE & A Level workshops at Gloucestershire Archives from Spring 2027
A student looking at a document at Gloucestershire Archives
From Spring 2027, Gloucestershire Archives will be offering a new programme of curriculum-linked workshops designed specifically for GCSE and A Level History students. Drawing on the unique collections held at Gloucestershire Archives, these sessions will provide students with the opportunity to engage directly with original historical documents that bring their studies to life.
Whether exploring the development of medicine, investigating crime and punishment through the centuries, or examining the experiences of Gloucestershire people during the First World War, students will gain valuable experience working with primary sources while developing the analytical skills required for examination success.
Bringing History Beyond the Textbook
Archives allow students to encounter history first-hand. By handling and interpreting original historical records, students can develop a deeper understanding of historical change, continuity, significance and evidence. Each workshop has been designed to support curriculum content while showcasing fascinating local stories and source material from Gloucestershire's rich documentary heritage.
GCSE History Workshops
• Medicine, c.1250 to Present
• Crime and Punishment, c.1000 to Present
• First World War, 1914–1918
A Level History Workshops
• Poverty Through the Ages
• Stuart Britain, c.1603–1702
• The Industrial Age, c.1783–1885
Booking Information
The new GCSE and A Level workshop programme will launch in Spring 2027. Further details regarding workshop content, group sizes and booking arrangements will be announced in due course.
To register your interest, please contact the Access & Engagement Team archives@gloucestershire.gov.uk
Jemma Fowkes, Community & Heritage Officer