Southwick: Time capsule unearthed in shopping square renovation

Southwick Square is undergoing a major redevelopment and while working on the site contractors discovered a lead time capsule which has been buried there.

The capsule dates back to 1961 and was buried at the site during the official opening of the original precinct in April of that year.

It was found whilst carefully removing the commemorative stone in the pond.

A clipping from the Brighton and Hove Herald dated April 22, 1961 (Image: Adur District Council)

Inside, it contained newspaper cuttings from the Shoreham Herald and the Brighton and Hove Herald, as well as a Southwick Urban District Council 1960/61 yearbook and a programme to mark the laying of the stone.

The stone was laid by Lieutenant Colonel Sir Herbert Shiner, the chairman of West Sussex County Council, and blessed by Reverend RJ Leave, the Rector of Southwick, in front of residents and VIP guests during the opening ceremony 62 years ago.

The capsule will be put on display for the public to view at the museum, run by the Southwick Society at the Manor Cottage Heritage Centre, Southwick Street and then be reburied with a new capsule containing modern-day items when the work is completed around mid-August.

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“It is very exciting to uncover a time capsule during the redevelopment. Southwick Urban District Council was a very forward-thinking council with ambitious plans for Southwick in the 60s,” said Mary Candy, chairwoman for the Southwick Society.

“It is great that they had the foresight to bury these items for future generations to find. Of course they had no idea how long the capsule would remain hidden and whilst there will be some people who remember the opening of the square, the majority will not. 

“We would be very happy to display it in the museum whilst the redevelopment continues, to give the public an opportunity to see it before it is reburied. We have a cinefilm of the opening of the Square which we show in the museum, which would tie in very nicely.

“If it is not to be reburied then we would be happy to give it a permanent home in our archive.”

A clipping of the Shoreham Herald dated April 28, 1961 (Image: Adur District Council)

Steve Neocleous, Adur District Council's cabinet member for regeneration and strategic planning, said:

“This is a real find by the team working to regenerate Southwick Square and looking back to when the original shopping precinct was open highlights how important the work is to bring it into the 21st century.

“It really is a slice of local history and putting it on display in the heritage centre is a wonderful idea that will give residents and history buffs the chance to see what it looked like when it was officially opened more than 60 years ago.

“And when the regeneration work is complete, I think it is a great idea to ask the community to give us their ideas of what items from 2023 they would like to see buried in it, so that in another 60 or 70 years people can see the huge changes that have taken place in their neighbourhood.”