Hospital builders find time capsule

A time capsule dating back almost a century was unearthed by a construction worker on a building site.

The recent discovery was made as a building was about to be demolished to make way for the new Royal Victoria Building at Western General Hospital in Edinburgh.

He saw papers sticking out of the large piece of brickwork and alerted his foreman. On further inspection it was found to be a sealed, glass jar inside a large stone.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The jar was sealed 97 years ago in 1913 to mark the creation of a children's home for Craigleith Hospital and Poorhouse, which went on to become the site of modern-day Western General Hospital.

The children's home was built adjacent to the main building for just 7,180.

Alistair Johnston, project leader of developers Laing O'Rourke, said: "It was a large glass bottle filled with lots of old newspapers, maps and pictures."

Laura Bruard, assistant archivist at Lothian Health Services Archive, said: "Surprisingly, given the length of time that it has been buried, the capsule's contents are extremely well-preserved.

"They provide a fascinating insight into the origins of the Children's Home at Craigleith Poorhouse, later part of the Western General Hospital."

Related topics: