Time capsule opened at the Freshney Place development

On the week that “I’ll never fall in love again” was number one in the UK charts, a foundation stone was dedicated at the former Riverhead Centre, now known as Freshney Place.

October 16, 1969 – the date when a Trawler Safety Bill was being proposed for the next session of Parliament as a result of the recommendations for safety at sea from the Holland-Martin review, established the previous year following a series of fishing vessel losses including the Triple Trawler disaster.

In other news, the Soyuz spacecraft returned safely to earth, the future of the Grimsby to Hull Humber Hovercraft service was being discussed and the foundation stone was unveiled by Alderman Parker, the Mayor of Grimsby at the time.

Last week, the foundation stone was uncovered by contractors, GMI, who are working on the development of the western end of Freshney Place. The copper capsule was discovered untouched, and had a plastic sealed inner tube within it containing several items.

Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of the Council, said: “Thanks to local historians and social media, we knew that a time capsule had also been buried at the foundation stone site, so contractors were looking out for it. It was found behind the foundation stone, in what would have been the BHS building.”

The Worshipful, The Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Cllr Janet Goodwin was invited to open up the time capsule this week, along with invited guests, to see what the contents were.

There were five things in the capsule were:

• A copy of the Grimsby Evening Telegraph from 18 October 1969

• A copy of Grimsby News from October 17, 1973

• Two plans of Grimsby C.D.A. showing ground and first floor, along with occupancy

• A metal plate bearing the name “Matthew Hall Mechanical Services Ltd”

Cllr Goodwin remarked “What an honour it’s been to open the time capsule. I used to work in Freshney Place for 26 years, and to see the things in the time capsule and read what was happening in 1969 has been amazing.”

Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of the Council, said: “Whilst we’ve unearthed the time capsule with various items in, including from 1969, when the precinct was begun, what isn’t known at the moment is exactly when the time capsule was buried. The items in there relate to 1969, 1972 and 1973. If you can remember anything about it, or have any more information, do get in touch with us.

“We’ll put the contents of the time capsule on display at some point in the future, so everyone can see what was in there.”

The contents of the capsule are going to be taken away for professional photography so that the items can be seen digitally and reproduced in the future.

If anyone has any memories or stories about the time capsule, please send them to communications@nelincs.gov.uk.