Community and church members in Kirkheaton, Huddersfield were on tenterhooks waiting to see what treasures from 101 years ago would be revealed when a time capsule discovered by workmen demolishing their old church hall and former village school was finally opened.
Buried in 1913, the capsule, a kilner jar , was opened by Katrina Bill, Curator of the local Tolson Museum and Rector, Revd Richard Steel.
Inside the jar, were a copy of the Yorkshire Post, the Huddersfield Chronicle and the West Yorkshire Advertiser for 1913 and a Parish magazine for June 1913.
There to witness the event were children from Kirkheaton Primary School, a lady whose father was at the school when the capsule was buried, members of the Kirkheaton Family History group and other members of the church and community.
“It was great to be able to connect with this part of our past,” said the Revd Richard Steel, Rector of Kirkheaton. “The discovery caused a lot of excitement locally, and the opening has been a really good community event.”
“After a quick look through we’ve discovered that we had a Parish Nurse at that time,” he adds, “which is quite fascinating. I look forward to seeing what more we can learn.”
The time capsule was discovered last week under the foundation stone of what was once Kirkheaton National School that served many of the local community in this bustling village on the edge of Huddersfield. It was founded around 1610 as a free grammar school and had been used as a church hall for the community of Kirkheaton for many years up to its closure three years ago.
