It’s Flax to the Future with time capsule at Shrewsbury site - with pictures and video
Artwork, poems, a handmade brick, letters from the council and lottery tickets have all be buried high in the eaves of Shrewsbury Flaxmill to be found again in 100 years.
Dozens of schoolchildren, who each carefully created a piece of creative writing or artwork, were guests of honour at a special ceremony held yesterday at the former Maltings in Ditherington which are currently undergoing a multi-million pound regeneration and restoration project.
A Georgian Coalbrookdale chest, dating back to 1790 and which had once been used a ship's safe, had been chosen as a 'time capsule' to be placed in the newly renovated roof space high in the main mill.
Alan Mosley, chair of the Friends of the Flaxmill, said he was overwhelmed with the thought and care which had gone in to the work from the children from the Martin Wilson School, Shrewsbury Catholic Cathedral Primary School and Sundorne Infants School.
"It is fascinating to have that many primary school children be involved in this. It seems to have really captured their imagination.
"Two hundred years ago, children of their age would have been working here having been taken on as apprentices from as young as-nine-years-old.
"The time capsule is symbolic that this project is now moving forward successfully. We are on target for a final completion in 2021.
"Many had doubts about this but the Friends, Shropshire Council and Historic England have maintained a commitment in ensuring that this site of massive international importance is going to be comprehensively refurbished."
Alastair Godfrey, project lead for Historic England, said that he was confident that in 100 years time, whoever opened the box would be amazed at how we lived.
"Children have always known this as a derelict site," he said.
"To have a time capsule there means that children can look up and say 'I'm a bit of that'. Perhaps in 60 years time they will be able to tell their grandchildren about how they cam e to be involved in the project."
One of those involved was 11-year-old Revis Parslow from Martin Wilson School.
He had drawn a picture of the various types of technology on offer today such as the iPhone X. "I think life is going to be very different in 100 years. There will be even more technology. I drew a picture of the technology I use, the clothes I like to wear and the things I like to do."
Owen Bowley, 11, from Shrewsbury Catholic Cathedral Primary School, added: "I think that the time capsule is very interesting. I am a big history fan. I think people will say they do not understand what we have written. Maybe it will be a little like Latin is for us today. I really enjoyed the project and when I heard about it I wanted to be part of it."
The capsule was placed in the roof space of the former main mill by workmen after the ceremony and will remain safe in its new hiding place for a century.
