Builders carrying out demolition work at St Barnabas' Church on Pilsley Road found the time capsule buried in the foundation stone of the building and local historians found records of its burial from 1854.

Nearly 100 curious residents attended the 'official opening' of the glass capsule at the Parkhouse pub and a number of historical artefacts were discovered – including coins, the newspaper, a copy of the parish magazine and a letter from the original builders.

Rev Matthew Barnes, vicar at St Barnabas', said: "It was a fascinating evening and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. We were really surprised by the level of community interest.
"Nothing earth-shattering was inside the capsule – nothing has changed really!

"The shops were in sale mode and an eight-year-old boy had drowned in Danesmoor the previous week so the coroner was holding his court in a local pub!"

The contents of the time capsule will now go on tour around local schools to help schoolchildren learn about their local history.

A new church and community centre is being built on the site and a new time capsule will now be buried underneath it.

Mr Barnes added: "We have had a number of suggestions for what to put inside but we would like to send something from the old capsule on to the new capsule and I will write a letter, as vicar, explaining what we have done and why."