Explore Our Archives Event with ARA Cymru at Chester Cathedral

In-person: Friday, 13th February 2026 from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm

ARA members free to attend and non members £15 - Book your place here

Join ARA Cymru at Chester Cathedral and explore; connect with like-minded professionals; and enjoy tea & cake during this networking event.

Join ARA Cymru for an afternoon visit to Chester Cathedral, one of the most significant cultural centres in the UK. With origins dating back over 1,000 years, the Cathedral has stood as a place of worship, learning, and heritage through the Saxon, Norman, and medieval periods to the present day. Today, it remains an architectural and cultural landmark in the heart of Chester.

The Cathedral’s collections span three main areas: objects, library, and archive. Chester Cathedral’s Library holds over 5,000 volumes relating to the Cathedral, its clergy and community, the wider local area, and the study of theology. Together, these collections offer a rich insight into the Cathedral’s historical, religious, and civic significance.

This event will provide exclusive opportunities to explore both the Cathedral and the Library while also offering plenty of time to network and catch up with fellow archive and heritage professionals. We’ll end the afternoon with refreshments in the Cathedral café.

Itinerary:

1:00pm – Arrive at the West Front where we’ll be divided into two groups
1:00–2:00pm – Group 1: Library visit | Group 2: Cathedral tour
2:00–3:00pm – Group 2: Library visit | Group 1: Cathedral tour
3:00–4:00pm – Refreshments and time for a catch-up with all attendees

** Any dietary requirements please get in touch with ARA Cymru’s Training and Event Officer by 30th January, 2026: ARAW.TO1@archives.org.uk