Former Walsall History Centre to go under the hammer

The town's local history centre closed in December after the archives moved into the town centre, and now the building will be going up for auction on March 21, with a guide price of £300,000.

Experts say there is a potential for the building, on Essex Street, which was previously a school, to be converted into housing.

Council bosses no longer need the site following the decision to shift archives to the Lichfield Street Hub, where library services are also based. The new archives centre is expected to open in the coming weeks.

A report advertising the centre for sale said: "The property may be suitable for a variety of uses including residential, religious or educational subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents."

Walsall councillor Doug James said the move to the town centre would mean more people can access the archives.

He said: "Walsall Council has a civic responsibility to make sure they develop facilities for local history.

"The building that is going on the market was in a fairly poor condition and that's why it was decided to move into the library facility which they invested around £4.2 million redeveloping.

"Buildings are important but we want to make sure people have access to local history. It's part of local education and can reach out to people who are isolated and lonely."

Councillor James said he expected the centre to eventually become housing.

"There is a constant pressure for social housing," he added.

When the closure was announced, a Walsall Council spokesman said: "Walsall Local History Centre will be relocated within a building also housing the library service. This means the public will have access to both services and will have facilities to research and locate archival material in a modern facility."

The history centre is due to go under the hammer at Villa Park on March 21.