A time capsule marking the once in a generation transformation of Newcastle’s famous Northumberland Street will be buried this week, capturing a snapshot of life in 2025 for future generations to uncover in 2075.
Led by Newcastle City Council’s construction partner Taylor Woodrow, and in collaboration with Newcastle College and local schools, the time capsule project celebrates the city’s past, present and ambitious future. It will be buried within the first of the street’s new rain gardens near to Haymarket Metro and has been beautifully designed and expertly welded by students from the college. Pupils from Charles Parsons School, Hawthorn Primary School and Christ Church CE Primary School have each contributed letters describing what life is like for them in 2025.
The capsule will also include records from Newcastle and Northumbria universities, messages from the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Cllr Rob Higgins and Cllr Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council, whose letter will also include rivets from the Tyne Bridge to commemorate the historic restoration that is currently underway.
A signed team sheet of the Newcastle United Carabao Cup winning team sheet, donated by the club as a unique piece of sporting history will also be in the capsule.
Cllr Alex Hay, Deputy Leader of Newcastle City Council said: “The transformation of Northumberland Street and the work underway to achieve this is incredibly important for Newcastle, both now and in the future, as the street has and will always have such a pivotal role to play in the lives of the people and businesses in the city, as well as those who come to visit.
“It is therefore very fitting that there will be a time capsule buried on the street to be opened in fifty years’ time to mark this very important project for the city and to look to its future.
“Newcastle is experiencing a period of huge investment and change, not only with the works on Northumberland Street, but also the momentous restoration of the Tyne Bridge ahead its centenary in 2028 and the significant improvements being made to the Grainger Market and on Pilgrim Street, to name a few. All of these will have a huge influence on what Newcastle will be like in 2075.
“And I am delighted that the young people of this city have been involved in this because they are our future so have a very important role to play in it. I hope they have all enjoyed being part of this project.”
Phil Skegg, Managing Director of Taylor Woodrow, said: “Newcastle has a unique and special atmosphere. To be working on part of the transformation of Northumberland Street, and at the centre of the city’s plans to invest and change is a privilege for our team and our business. The time capsule will give anyone in the future the real context of what we are doing, plus fix it in the history of the street and the Newcastle itself.”
The time capsule will be buried at an event on Northumberland Street, near to Haymarket Metro on Friday 23rd May at 2pm. Everyone is welcome.