Time capsule found during town hall restoration
LDRSA time capsule from the 1850s has been uncovered as part of restoration works at a Grade II listed former town hall.
The capsule, discovered at Middlesbrough's Old Town Hall, contained a document with signatures from some important names around the town in the 19th Century, including Isaac Wilson who served as mayor and then an MP for more than a decade.
At a council meeting, Labour Mayor Chris Cooke said the contents of the capsule had been rescued and they are trying to make sure all that was found inside can be salvaged.
Other documents included the foundation of the clock tower, which had a signature from John Vaughan, another former mayor who was key to Middlesbrough's iron-making success.
Cooke told the meeting on Wednesday he "didn't want tonight to pass without people finding out first," and added he will invite councillors to see the documents at a later date.
He said more details would be sent to the public in "due course", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
The Old Town Hall's £6.3m refurbishment will be taking place over the next 12 months and will see the original clock tower restored and the building converted into an office space.
The building opened in 1846 and was most recently used as a library and community centre before closing in 1996.
