Faye Pulleyn and Adam Brown were shocked to discover the bizarre time capsule hidden behind a bricked up fireplace in their cottage in Stamford, Lincolnshire while they were renovating
A couple renovating their new home were stunned when they found an old cigarette packet with a message written to them – 30 years ago.
Faye Pulleyn and Adam Brown discovered the bizarre time capsule hidden behind a bricked up fireplace in their cottage in Stamford, Lincs.
Inside an empty packet of Lambert & Butler ciggies were old coins, a golf tee, a key and an ID card for a Michael Whitehead. On the card was a handwritten note which read: “If this is found 30 years from now please find me if I’m still alive - I hope so.
“Or publish it in the Stamford Mercury. Thank you.” They also found a piece of wood with the words: ‘Time goes by so quickly’ along with the age ‘26-and-a-half’ written above Michael's signature.
When the couple, who have a 16-month-old son Leo, ripped off the wallpaper on the fireplace they also found cartoon-like doodles.
Faye, 34, said: “I loved finding it and thought it was really exciting. It made me think that we should do something similar.
“It also makes the house feel lived in. It would be lovely to find out whether he’s done this in any other properties and whether he has a particular passion for illustrations.”
The couple contacted their local paper and incredibly tracked down Michael, known as Mick, who still lives locally. Mick, who runs a building firm in nearby Manthorpe, Lincs., met the couple last weekend to retrieve his time capsule.
He admitted planting the treasures in the fireplace after buying the cottage in Ryhall Road for £40,000 in the early 1990s.
Mick, 57, said: “I can’t believe someone found it. I have always been interested in history and have hidden items more times than I can remember. It’s nice to know I’m still alive. I loved that cottage, I should have kept it.”
Mick moved out of the cottage when he met wife Alison and they went on to have two children. He admitted leaving hidden notes and ‘gifts’ at other houses he has worked on but has yet to find out if they have been found.
Although Mick has hidden notes and ‘gifts’ at other properties he’s worked on, none have made it back to him yet. The most memorable item Mick he’s put behind a fireplace is a fancy Chinese vase which the owner of a property didn’t want anymore.
Mick said: “I’m waiting for the next lot to show up in 50 years. It’s normally scrap or a note but the chances are it’s nice to look back at it. Every builder does it when they seal things up, kind of like a time capsule.”