Buckinghamshire Archives will temporarily close to the public next month as more than 800 years of the county's history is relocated to a new home in High Wycombe.
The service, currently based in Walton Street, Aylesbury, will close to public access from October 1 to allow staff to safely pack and move its nationally significant collections to a purpose-built facility in Denmark Street.
Buckinghamshire Council expects the archives service to reopen in spring 2027.
Buckinghamshire Archives preserves and provides access to more than three million items, including historic maps, photographs, documents and records charting the county's history from 1155 to the present day.
Council leaders said the move is necessary because the current premises can no longer suitably accommodate and protect the growing collection.
The new Denmark Street site will offer improved storage conditions, enhanced public access, dedicated exhibition and display spaces, and modern facilities for researchers, visitors and staff.
Peter Brazier, Buckinghamshire Council's Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure, described the relocation as a major investment in the county's heritage.
He said: "The relocation of Buckinghamshire Archives to High Wycombe is a significant commitment by the council, involving investing in preserving our county's heritage for future generations.
"The temporary closure is essential to facilitate the movement of over 3 million items in controlled conditions."
Mr Brazier apologised to users affected by the closure but stressed that a range of online services would remain available throughout the transition.
He added: "We have committed to keeping our online remote services such as the Virtual Searchroom and Ask the Archivist available during the transition.
"I want to thank our Archives team and especially our fantastic archive volunteers who have made this move possible within such an ambitious timescale."
During the closure, residents will still be able to access the Virtual Searchroom, the Ask the Archivist online service and professional archive advice.
The annual Buckinghamshire History Festival will also return in November, offering further opportunities for people to explore the county's heritage.
Looking ahead to the reopening, Mr Brazier said: "The new facility will provide a much-improved experience for all who come to do local history research with enhanced reading and research rooms.
"Buckinghamshire Archives plays a vital role in safeguarding our shared history, from medieval documents dating all the way back to 1155 through to internationally significant Paralympic collections."
The archives service will occupy part of the first floor of the refurbished Denmark Street building, opposite High Wycombe Library, as part of Buckinghamshire Council's wider regeneration plans for the town centre.
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