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Lady Thatcher opens New Wing of Churchill Archives Centre

Today (Wednesday 30 October 2002), former Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher opened the new wing of the Churchill Archives Centre at Churchill College, Cambridge.

Photograph of the new wing of Churchill Archives Centre supplied by TCC Architects.

The purpose-built wing will enable the Archives Centre to house the Thatcher Papers alongside the archives of other prominent politicians, civil servants, diplomats, service chiefs and scientists of the "Churchill era and beyond".

The Archives Centre is rapidly becoming one of the country's leading repositories for the preservation of the private archives of modern public figures. The existing strong-room, built to the house the archive of Sir Winston Churchill, is now full and without the new wing the Archives Centre would not be able to continue to collect papers, compromising its cultural and educational mission to the detriment of this and future generations.

Lady Thatcher has played a key role in promoting and supporting the development of the new wing.

Sir John Boyd, Master of Churchill College:

"I am delighted that this College, which was founded as the National Memorial to Sir Winston Churchill, should now enjoy the support of another illustrious occupant of 10 Downing Street. Lady Thatcher has not only ensured that her own papers will be accessible, she has also helped secure the future of many other important collections."

The papers of Baroness Thatcher were deposited at the Archives Centre in 1997. They are administered by a charitable Trust, which is dedicated to preserving and providing access to the material. The collection is currently being catalogued, but some material is now available for consultation by prior appointment. Please contact the Archivist (Thatcher Papers) at Churchill Archives Centre, Churchill College, Cambridge, CB3 0DS (Tel: 01223 336178) for further details.

Further information about the new wing and refurbishment of Churchill Archives Centre is available.