Another major step has been taken in the construction of a new £19m historical resource centre at Woollards Field near Falmer.

The University of Sussex, East Sussex County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council are working in partnership to provide the new archive centre, which is due to open to the public by the end of 2013.

On Monday (1 October), the project partners gathered at the site of The Keep to mark the completion of the roof of the building with a ‘topping out' ceremony.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Farthing, said: “The Keep is an excellent collaboration and means that our own internationally acclaimed Special Collections archive, which includes the Mass Observation diaries and precious original manuscripts of Virginia Woolf and Rudyard Kipling, will benefit from shared archival and conservation expertise.”

Representing the University of Sussex at Monday’s ceremony were the Special Collections Manager, Fiona Courage, and the Librarian, Kitty Inglis.

Councillor Tony Freebody, Lead Member for Community Services at East Sussex County Council, said: “The public centre will enable people to research their local and family history and provide opportunities for school visits and a wide range of activities and facilities.”

Janita Bagshawe, Head of Royal Pavilion and Museums at Brighton & Hove City Council, added: “The Keep will bring together in one place a range of collections from the city and county and provide for the first time opportunities for learners to work with a range of archive and museum resources.”