The newly expanded Constantine Museum has been officially opened, giving access to the village’s plentiful archives.

The museum, which can be found alongside the Tolmen Centre in Fore Street, has |been able to expand into what was once a disabled |toilet.

The space became available once new toilet facilities were completed elsewhere in the centre.

Funding from a charitable trust has allowed the museum |to cover the transformation |of the room into a storage space for the plethora of archive material donated by residents of the village and surrounding areas.

Now properly stored and catalogued, it is a treasure trove for researchers into the history of the area and local families.

Key items include a copy of the Tithe map, original |documents relating to mining and quarrying, plans and documents from a local |builder and family histories provided by relatives.

The improved museum was opened by Constantine parish resident Lucy Nottingham, a former City of York archivist.

The date coincided with the day war was declared against Germany in 1914 – particularly relevant, as the archive contains information about every member of the parish who served and lost their lives.

Until the end of August |the museum has a special display of photographs illustrating life in Constantine at the time war was |declared, accompanied by World War One objects from |the collection.

The museum is open, with free entry, on Monday between noon and 3.30pm, Tuesday |from 11am until 1pm, Wednesday from 10am until 3.30pm and Thursday from 10am until noon.