An archives service has relocated to a historic Grade II* listed hotel following a painstaking £7.5million refurbishment project. The Wolverhampton service, including a wealth of local studies information, has now re-opened to the public in its new home at the city's Molineux Hotel. It was previously based above a supermarket in Snow Hill but was closed for four months. City archivist David Bishop said: "The move means that, for the first time in its 30-year history, the service has a dedicated base. "The whole point of collecting an archive of material on Wolverhampton's history is so it can be used, and we are pleased that visitors will be able to do so in such comfortable and historic surroundings." The restoration of the hotel, which dates from the 1720s, was funded by Wolverhampton City Council, English Heritage, Advantage West Midlands and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Formerly home to local ironmaster and merchant Benjamin Molineux, the hotel stood empty for almost 30 years and suffered damage from an arson attack in 2003. Initially, the Archives and Local Studies Service will be open three days a week, from Tuesdays to Thursdays. From the start of April it will be open to the public from Tuesdays to Fridays, and every Saturday morning. Details are available at www.wolverhampton.gov. uk/archives. | 
