Children's memories unearthed from time capsule

The time capsule was buried under a pavement slab outside Newcastle's Theatre Royal

A time capsule unearthed after 25 years has been described as a "beautiful reminder" of children's hopes and dreams.

It was buried under a paving slab near The Theatre Royal in 2000 as part of Newcastle's millennium celebrations.

Opened up in a ceremony by representatives from the schools which took part originally, the capsule revealed children's drawings of city landmarks, including the Grade I listed theatre, along with letters and photographs.

"This project not only celebrates our city's past but also inspires future generations to reflect on their own place in Newcastle's story," Newcastle City councillor Lesley Storey said.

"This time capsule is a beautiful reminder of the hopes, dreams, and creativity of Newcastle's young people at the turn of the millennium."

Designed to "enlighten and delight the schoolchildren of the future", the capsule contained contributions from Canning Street Primary, Parkway Special and Throckley Middle schools.

The contents will go on display in the summer

Its contents showcased their thoughts on the buildings of Grainger Town and also included drawings of the landscape at the time.

Magazines and booklets of a children's discovery trail were also in the capsule, along with children's messages.

Pupil Christopher Heslop wrote at the time: "The Theatre Royal used to be further down but Richard Grainger broke The Theatre Royal and made a new one there further up."

He was referring to the demolition of the building on Mosley Street before it was moved to Grey Street, as part of builder Richard Grainger's grand design for the centre of Newcastle.

The items also contained children's drawings of the theatre and other nearby buildings

The unearthing ceremony was attended by staff working in the city's schools at the time, representatives from the only remaining participating school, Canning Street Primary School, as well as staff from Newcastle City Council and the Theatre Royal.

A public exhibition of the recovered items will be held this summer in the Arches Reception Gallery at Newcastle Civic Centre.

Magazines and school work were also included in the capsule in 2000