THE public records office in Plymouth is 'probably the worst in the country', according to a leading Devon historian.

The city council has been given until 2013 to bring the Plymouth and West Devon Record Office in Clare Place up to scratch after the National Archives classified the building as unsuitable for storing records.

If the council couldn't find a suitable building for the city's priceless historic documents they risked being taken away to the National Records Office at Kew in London, said Dr Todd Gray, an honorary research fellow at Exeter University.

"I've worked in every public records office in England and Wales and I can't think of one worse than Plymouth's," Dr Gray said.

"This is a tragedy. The records office holds documents mirroring Plymouth's central role in world history from medieval times, through Francis Drake and the birth of the Atlantic trade."

During the Blitz in the Second World War the records were moved out of the city to save them from German bombers.

Dr Gray said the existing records office in Coxside was opened in 1982 – as a temporary measure. "We've been waiting for 26 years", he said. "The building is totally unsuitable and can only accommodate six researchers at a time."

In early 2007 the council had plans to create a History Centre to house the public records plus other collections such as the TSW Film Archive, Local Studies Library and the Barbican Association's South West Image Bank. However, Dr Gray said the council had been advised to withdraw a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Glenn Jordan, Cabinet member for healthy communities and leisure, said a History Centre was 'still the aspiration'.

"The original proposal was to put it into the basement at Windsor House, but we're looking for better premises", he said. "We have five years before the 2013 deadline. I'm confident that it will happen by then."

Local historian and Herald columnist Chris Robinson said: "It would be a complete tragedy if any Plymouth records were taken away from the city.

"While it may not be Plymouth City Council's number one priority, it ought to be high up on the list. If the records were moved out of the city, the council would still have to pay for them. They might as well sort it out."

Mr Robinson, who is writing a book about the history of Devonport, said: "The History Centre was going to be in Windsor House at Derriford, which would have been all right as a temporary solution, but that building isn't ideal itself; there's too much glass to allow the temperature to be kept constant, which you need for storing documents."

A council spokeswoman said: "We have until 2013 to make efforts to find a more suitable home. These efforts are already under way, and potential sites are being explored. We're working with National Archives to ensure records remain in Plymouth."

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