A HUGE injection of Lottery cash has secured the long-term future of one of the richest and most important archive collections in Europe.

The Borthwick Institute of Historical Research, based at the University of York, is moving to a new facility after receiving a £4.4m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The centre houses the archives of the Archbishopric of York, Charlotte Bronte's will and the marriage bonds of Anthony Trollope and William Wordsworth.

It is also home to records of important families and politicians, the archives of hospitals, schools, businesses and charities, from the 13th Century to the present day.

The institute, part of the university since 1963, applied for the grant so that it could move its collection - which is stored on more than two miles of shelving - from the medieval St Anthony's Hall.

The building is now considered overcrowded and some of its facilities are becoming increasingly unsuitable for the preservation of delicate documents.

The museum's new home will be alongside the University of York's new Raymond Burton Humanities Research Library.

Acting director of the Borthwick, Chris Webb, said: "This is a wonderful opportunity to improve public access to a fascinating archive.

"One in ten families with English ancestors will find family archives relevant to them at the Borthwick.

"I am looking forward to making this collection more widely available to local historians, family researchers, scholars from around the world, and schoolchildren."