From the first royal charter of 1299 to original manuscripts by Philip Larkin and Winifred Holtby, Hull's written heritage is remarkably rich. Now a proposed new archive could bring together these treasures and over a million other documents in a single location for the first time.

The Hull Joint Repository Project is a partnership between the City Council's Libraries and Archives, the University of Hull Archives, and Hull College's Local History Unit.

Brian Dyson, head archivist at the University of Hull, is leading the project.

" ... a more efficient and accessible service with better storage facilities. "

He said: "The scope is enormous. As well as all the original documents, there are thousands of related local studies books, newspapers, photographs, maps, and microfilms. The topics they cover are equally wide ranging, including maritime history, family history, business, politics, topography, trade unions, and literature.

"Currently, the individual centres are spread around the city and staff in each location often have to deal with the same enquiries from the same customers, which is wasteful. Also, storage conditions are generally cramped and inadequate."

By pooling all the city's public collections of archives, manuscripts and local studies/history publications, organisers hope to be able to provide a more efficient and accessible service with better storage facilities.

It is expected that the new building, which would probably be located in the city centre and could open its doors by 2005, would include dedicated services for family historians and local societies. Seminar rooms, group study rooms and a lecture theatre are also planned.

Mr Dyson added: "We want to create a home for Hull's unique archives that local people and the research community can be proud of. We also want visitors to be assured that here is a city that cares about its written heritage."