A man stumbled across a hidden time capsule full of memories from the past while renovating his sister's house. Scott Bevan was helping his sibling when he found the treasures stashed away behind a fireplace.
The metal detectorist's sister Deborah, asked him to remove some wooden beams from the ceiling and knock down her fireplace. He posted about their find on Twitter earlier this month.
He tweeted: "I removed a few beams and thought I’d release some pent up anger by having a crack at the fireplace", he continues. "As I removed the bricks, I saw a cavity filled with loose bricks, cursing, I began to remove them…"
Inside the cavity were two packages, containing a photo, old Evening Mail newspapers from 1969 and 1988, and a card addressed to whoever found them, Birmingham Live reports. "The card contained some beautiful words that really made my sister quite emotional", said Scott.
The photo shows Ethel Wright, smartly dressed in a hat, suit and tie. A little frayed and creased over time, but it's still a lovely portrait from another time.
The first newspaper comes from April 1969, two years after the family moved in to their new-build house on Croy Drive in Castle Vale. The front page news? Protests over pay in Longbridge, a hunger strike at Winson Green Prison, and a coal pit blast in Mexico.
The second comes from August 1988, offering a 12-page special on the upcoming Birmingham Super Prix. 18 pence, your paper cost back then - we live in a different world today!
The best find is the note written by the former owners, Ethel and Harold Wright. It was addressed "To whom it may concern".
"We wish you lots of happiness and good luck in your new home", it reads. "We came here end of May 1967, it was then newly built and we have found contentment and security in these four walls. We hope you enjoy the house and garden as we have."
"The original fireplace was built 1969, and this one in August 1988, but I suppose when you arrive you will want to make major alterations so presumably you will find this note. Good luck to you, regards, Ethel and Harold Wright."
Below is another dedication from their sons, Paul and Martin - "and their respective wives and sweethearts, Jenny and Beverley xxxxx". Harold and Paul, father and son, were the last to decorate the fireplace before they left.
That message from years gone by holds special meaning for the new owner, Deborah, who suffered a brain aneurysm a couple of years ago. "She’s really hoping this move will start a new chapter in her life", said Scott.
"They must’ve reburied the first capsule from the 60’s in one column and they added another capsule in 1988, which was the second one that I found containing the card. The card contained some beautiful words that really made my sister quite emotional.
"It was like they just knew that after they’d passed & the house was sold, the fireplace would be the first thing to go. I’ve encouraged my sister to do a similar sort of thing as she puts her own stamp on the house.
"I think it was an amazing thing that this wonderful couple had the foresight to do. It meant everything to my sister & it was an honour to have been the one to find them."
Ethel's photo will be handed back to Paul, one of her sons, who had no idea the time capsules were in the house. The house will hopefully bring the "contentment and security" that the hidden note wrote of, all those years ago.
