PRIMARY school children have been enthralled by the discovery of a hidden time capsule – uncovered for the second time in their school’s history.

Workers removing an old foundation stone, which had formed a focal point for children at Thornley Primary School, in Thornley, east Durham, broke it open to reveal a bottle containing coins, a newspaper from 1876 and a letter dating back to 1928.

Deputy headteacher Tracy Page said: “It was amazing. We cannot believe it. No one knew it was there.

“The children have been enthralled by the stories in the newspaper found in the bottle.”

She added: “It was a foundation stone from the very first school across the road and has always been in the nursery courtyard.

Children have played on it and used it as a bird table.

“We’ve had various advisors to the school and a lot of people have said ‘oh you need to get rid of that stone’. And we have always said ‘no, it’s our foundation stone, we’ll hang on to it’.”

The letter inside the bottle reads: “This stone was removed during alterations to the schools and replaced in the present position on Oct 2, 1928.

“Coins enclosed were deposited on Oct 13, 1876.

“Sealed by Daniel Hagon, present Head Master, who has served over 39 years.”

Ms Page said: “What we think happened is that the time capsule had first been laid in the foundation stone when building began on the school in 1876. When the stone was then moved to the new school site across the road, it seems the head has opened the bottle and put his letter in.”

The newspaper is a copy of The Durham County Advertiser from October 13, 1876 – forerunner of The Northern Echo’s sister newspaper, the Durham Advertiser.

One advertisement reads: “Will any lady take into her service as under - servant a strong girl of 18, an orphan with a sad history and give her a chance of retrieving her character.

Reverend J J Pulleine.”

On the back page is the news brief: “A drunken carter, by the name of John Freeston, was brought up in custody charged with being drunk, while in charge of a horse and cart in Claypath, in Durham. He was fined ten shillings.”

The discovery was made as the stone was moved as part of renovation work at the school.

Ms Page said: “Had the guy who was drilling been an inch either way, it would have obliterated the bottle.

“We are now looking into the possibility of creating a present-day time capsule.

“When we come back from half-term, we will be asking children to write letters to children of the future and have another time capsule buried in the school grounds.”