Time capsule buried in steeple renovations.
The Provost of Inverness, accompanied by Rev Peter Nimmo, Old High St Stephen’s Church, has ‘buried’ a time capsule in an Inverness steeple during renovation works.
Following the discovery in October this year of a package of old documents that was laid down almost 90 years ago in 1923, The Highland Council decided mark the renovation works by burying a new time capsule not to be opened before the year 2112.
Provost, Councillor Alex Graham buried the new time capsule on Friday 23 November, 2012 at 9:30am under a cast iron cone that caps the top of the stonework at the apex of the steeple. Contractors Laing Traditional Masonry, used a crane to lift the cast iron cap into position, while the Provost inserted the time capsule.
Provost Graham said: “We hope that the capsule will stand the test of time in our historic steeple. When it is opened it will provide an interesting glimpse of this point in time and of life in the City of Inverness in the year 2012."
The time capsule comprises a cylindrical industrial tube, measuring 235mm x 600mm, and is manufactured from PVCu (British Standard EN 1401). Also used in the underground drainage sector the cylinder is considered to be sufficiently durable to last at least 100 years.
The capsule contains:
Reverend Nimmo said: “I'm delighted that a memento of the Kirking of the Council will be included in the time capsule. It so happens that the Old High Church tower is also being repaired at the moment. It houses the other town clock, which also belongs to The Highland Council. So I thank the Provost for inviting me onto the Town Steeple, and look forward to taking him up our Church steeple sometime soon!”
All of the items were individually encapsulated using archival inert polyester packaging by Richard Aitken ACR, Senior Conservator with High Life Highland at the Highland Archive Centre. Richard said: “It is a great privilege for me to help in putting the time capsule together. We have used clear inert polyester to encapsulate each item with all four sides bead welded to eliminate atmospheric pollutants contaminating the contents and to seal it from the air. Once daylight and oxygen have been removed from the equation, such as in a Time Capsule, the lifetime of these objects increases significantly.”
The Inverness Steeple renovations works, estimated to cost £550,000 are being funded by Inverness Common Good Fund and Historic Scotland. The major refurbishments on-going at the Grade A-listed building on the corner of Bridge Street and Church Street include masonry to repair or replace loose, worn or damaged stone and repairs to the clock face, bell mechanisms and weather vane on the tower.