Works are underway on the £6.3 million restoration of Middlesbrough’s Old Town Hall and just days into the project, our team made an extraordinary discovery.

Hidden beneath the building’s iconic clock tower, a Victorian time capsule dating back to 1858 was uncovered, offering a fascinating glimpse into Middlesbrough’s past. 

The historic time capsule was found sealed within the clock tower’s foundation stone, originally laid by Middlesbrough’s then Mayor, Henry Thompson.

Among the findings was a handwritten parchment inscription bearing the signatures of several of Middlesbrough’s founding figures, including Henry Bolckow, John Vaughan and Isaac Wilson.

The inscription provides a vivid snapshot of the town’s early development, stating:

“…the spot is one where thirty short years ago cattle grazed in peace, Middlesbrough then consisting of only one solitary house…”

The document also reveals that the bell within the clock tower was:

“…cast from the same model as the bell in the clock tower of Her Majesty’s castle of Balmoral.”

An 1857 silver threepence coin featuring the head of a young Queen Victoria was also found alongside the documents during excavation works, further corroborating the construction date.

Preserving Middlesbrough’s History

Teesside Archives Conservator Helen Kendall, who was invited to assess and rescue the capsule’s contents, said:

“I was excited to be asked to visit the Old Town Hall site to rescue the contents of the time capsule.”

“The newspapers and parchment document are in remarkably good condition with little sign of water or oxygen degrading the materials which is often the case with other time capsules that I have rescued.”

“The Victorians did a great job sealing the contents in the capsule and then the foundation stone.”

“They will be preserved and protected by Teesside Archives so that future generations can discover this important part of the evolving history of Middlesbrough.”

Walter Thompson Managing Director Paul Hammerton said:

“Uncovering a time capsule dating back to the Victorian era, just days into the project, was an extraordinary moment for our whole team.”

“To discover documents signed in 1858 by the men who built Middlesbrough, as well as an 1857 silver threepence coin, is a rare privilege and a powerful reminder of why preserving buildings like these matters so much.”

“We’re not just restoring the Old Town Hall – we’re safeguarding the story of this town, and we couldn’t be more proud to play our part in preserving a piece of Middlesbrough’s history.”

Middlesbrough Mayor Chris Cooke added:

“What a fantastic find that sheds new light on the earliest days of our town, the Infant Hercules that would make its presence felt around the globe.”

“The Old Town Hall survives as a powerful symbol of Middlesbrough’s incredible origins, and I’m delighted to see it being given the new lease of life it so richly deserves.”

“This project is already revealing new insights into the town’s remarkable past, and I’m sure there will be further revelations to come.”

About The Old Town Hall Project 

Over the next 12 months, Walter Thompson will transform the Grade II-listed structure into high-quality business space within the town’s growing Boho Zone.

The project includes:

• Demolition of a 1970s extension

• Extensive structural repairs

• Restoration of the historic clock tower

• Construction of a modern marketplace extension

For more information:

https://www.middlesbrough.gov.uk/about-middlesbrough/improving-middlesbrough/old-town-hall/