AN ARCHIVE of 900 years of County Durham's history has won a prestigious national honour.

Durham County Record Office, run by Durham County Council, has been awarded Archive Service Accreditation.

Only 5 per cent of the 2,500 archives in the country hold the accreditation, which recognises good performance in all areas including management, the care of its unique collections and what the service offers to users.

A presentation was made by Liz Rees, former chief archivist of Tyne and Wear Archives Service and member of the accreditation panel.

Ms Rees said: “Accredited Archive Services ensure the long-term collection, preservation and accessibility of our archive heritage. The award is a national benchmark, recognising high standards in archive practices. Durham County Record Office were in a very strong position, and this award is a tribute to everyone involved.”

Between 2017 and 2018 outside visitors engaged with the archive 900,000 times in person, via the website and through enquiry services.

The panel praised the Record Office’s relationship with volunteers, including more than 250 who worked on the Durham at War project to create an interactive mapping website.

Gill Parkes, the Record Office’s principal archivist, said: “We have over five miles of unique and irreplaceable archives, evidencing the history of our county over the last 900 years. The archives are our collective memory, and reflect the life and work of County Durham’s people and communities in the past and today. People of all ages and from all backgrounds use the archives.”