Heritage Scanning

Perfect for heritage and historical archives.

Specialist Scanning Services

Digitising Heritage, Embracing the Future.

We're here to help bring our shared history to life! Our services focus on preserving and digitising precious assets for future generations. Using state-of-the-art scanning and digital preservation techniques, we ensure that every tiny detail is captured.

Features of Heritage Scanning.

We expertly transform your heritage and historical archives into high-quality digital files, streamlining document management. Key features of our service include:

Delicate Preparation & Processing

We carefully go through each box of archive records to decide the best way to scan them. Our experienced team know how to handle all kinds of documents, even making small fixes when needed. We focus on finding the perfect setup, making sure we get top-quality digitised images.

Specialist Scanning Equipment

We use top-notch Kodak scanners that can adjust to different document sizes and conditions. The scans can be produced in PDF, TIFF or JPEG formats at high resolution. We even enhance the images for better readability and use OCR software to turn them into searchable text.

Secure Storage & Destruction

We give you choices – you can get your original documents back, securely store them, or have them shredded after scanning, all based on what you prefer. Our team takes extra care with archive documents, following BS 10008 guidelines for digitisation and storage.

Benefits of Heritage Scanning.

Our heritage scanning services offer numerous benefits, from cost, time, and space savings to rapid access to your documents. We designed the service to achieve:

Cost Savings

By converting heritage items to digital format, you can avoid the costs of ongoing preservation and restoration work.

Instant Access

Digitisation allows quick access, especially for remote work, making it easier and more convenient to search and locate.

Space Savings

By eliminating the need for physical archive storage, converting to a digital format frees up space and reduces clutter.

Data Protection

Creating a digital backup ensures that important information is securely stored, minimising the risk of data loss or theft.

Efficiency Gains

Digital conversion enables more efficient archiving, access, and management systems, ultimately boosting overall productivity.

Access Control

Converting to a digital format allows for password protection and detailed access logs, providing enhanced security controls.

How It Works.

Chaffinch's specialist scanning process handles everything from document collection to digital delivery. Let's explore the four key steps involved:

Planning

After assessing the project, we provide a thorough plan for collecting and delivering the scanned files, ensuring high-quality digital images are delivered on time.

Preparation

We carefully prepare your heritage items by removing items that could interfere with scanning, maintaining the integrity and quality of the physical documents.

Scanning

We use advanced technology and high-volume scanners to create quality digital images that are indexed, categorised, and converted into OCR searchable files.

Delivery

We offer multiple secure file delivery options, including email download link, USB stick, SFTP to customer servers, and access via Aviary DMS.

Our Customers.

At Chaffinch, 1000+ customers trust us with their document management needs, and we strive to exceed their expectations.

What Our Customers Say.

We take pride in delivering exceptional document management solutions. Here are testimonials from some of our satisfied customers:

Alastair and the team are always reliable, and treat all work with confidentiality and professionalism. They provide me with a service which I do not have the time to do myself, and ensure my documents are shredded securely and with no effort required from me, apart from an email or telephone call. Thanks Alastair.

Dawn McGovern

A fantastic secure service everytime! At Peak Chiropractic we hold a lot of sensitive medical information which is all transferred from paper format to digital as it presents. Chaffinch document storage give us peace of mind that all of this hard information is destroyed professionally and in accordance with GDPR. This takes no effort on our part except putting the information in a dedicated shredding bag! I cannot recommend Alistair and the team enough!

Andrew S.

First class service, with extremely good staff, who are really helpful. Worthwhile using Chaffinch for confidential waste disposal.

Neil Bragg

Excellent service. Prompt response to initial enquiry with fast, efficient and friendly service. Very trustworthy with great documentation to ensure that all documents were shredded as agreed. Highly Recommended

Barry Ashley

Excellent service, with very polite staff.

Susan Cookson

I would 100% recommend Chaffinch Document to any company, their service is professional, fast and friendly – thanks for all of your help with our last minute requests!

Amanda Turner

Our Accreditations.

At Chaffinch, we are committed to maintaining top-notch security measures and full compliance with industry standards and regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Have a question about our heritage scanning services? Check out our FAQs below for answers to some common queries.

What is heritage scanning?

Heritage scanning involves the process of digitally converting cultural items like documents, manuscripts, photographs, artifacts, and artworks. This transformation helps preserve, analyse, and make these items widely accessible through digital means. The goal is to protect cultural heritage from physical deterioration, loss, and obsolescence, while allowing people worldwide to explore and engage with these treasures anytime, anywhere. Digitisation acts as a bridge between the past and the future, ensuring that cultural legacies are preserved for educational, research, and public enjoyment purposes for generations to come.

How can heritage scanning benefit our organisation?

Our heritage digitisation service ensures that your valuable historical collections are preserved, accessible, and ready to inform and inspire future generations. Digitisation allows for:

Searching Large Archives: Simplify the search through vast archives, making it quick to find what you’re looking for.
Online Access: Accessing interesting items online becomes easy with, offering a seamless experience for exploring historical content.
Preserving Fragile Items: Perfect for delicate items, digital preservation ensures they’re shielded from damage, securing them for the long term.
Keeping Historical Records: By digitising records, these solutions help keep a detailed history intact, ensuring important information endures.
Sharing Important Stories: Digital preservation aids in sharing the important stories, making them accessible to more people.

What types of heritage material are suitable for scanning?

We offer digitisation services for a wide variety of heritage items, including:

Documents and Manuscripts: Our meticulous document and manuscript digitisation service transforms historical materials into digital formats, preserving the integrity of manuscripts, letters, and archival papers for research, education, and preservation purposes.
Books, Diaries, Newspapers, Property Deeds: We specialise in digitising rare books, diaries, newspapers, and legal deed-packs, ensuring that each page is carefully scanned to capture the text and imagery with high fidelity.
Microfilms, Slides, Negatives, and Glass-Plates: Our specialised scanning process captures detailed imagery from microfilms, slides, negatives, and glass-plates, preserving historical photographs and documents stored on these media.
Photographs and Memorabilia: Our digitisation service preserves personal and community histories by digitally preserving family photos, heirlooms, and artifacts, allowing them to be shared with a wider audience while keeping the originals safe from harm.

What happens to my digital files post-scanning?

To compliment our digitisation services, we provide online content management systems that are specifically designed to facilitate easy browsing, researching, and management of digital collections. Our systems are customised to cater to the requirements of both institutions and private collectors, offering a strong platform for the distribution and exploration of digitised heritage.

See all FAQs

Let's Get Started.

Ready to digitise your heritage items and unlock the benefits of easy access and preservation? Contact us now to learn more about our specialist scanning services!