A TIME capsule uncovered at a Blackburn building site has been opened 160 years after it was buried.

The wax sealed Victorian glass bottle contained old coins and plans for the former school Hopwood School, which was demolished several years ago.

The bottle had been hidden between two solid blocks of stone, and covered with a brass plaque, in the foundations of the former school in the Infirmary area.

It was found by the development site foreman Chris Eccles and the bottle and its contents will now be put on display at nearby Christ Church before being handed to Blackburn Museum.

Developer Great Places Housing Group, councillors, representatives from Christ Church and site contractor Tyson Construction gathered to see the artefacts revealed.

John Turner Hopwood, grandson of wealthy textile firm founder Robert Hopwood, performed the honours at the junction of Mosley Street and James Street, now Proctor Street.

Great Places is building five two-bedroom homes on the church land in Mosley Street, plus a curate’s house.

The Rev Andrew Raynes said: “It’s an amazing find. Older members of the church knew of the capsule’s existence but didn’t have any hope of retrieving it.”

Matthew Harrison, deputy chef executive and director of development at Great Places, said: “This was a really exciting find, the sort of thing that happens once in a lifetime.

“We have sometimes got together with local people to bury time capsules on our development sites but we’ve never dug one up before. It's absolutely fascinating.”

Research has shown that the capsule was buried on March 7 1850 when the foundation stone for the Tudor gothic style Hopwood School was laid.

Robert Hopwood donated £150 plus land towards the £800 building, originally an extension to the Leyland Charity School for Girls in Thunder Alley.

It was sold to the Blackburn Exchange Company in 1870 to become auction rooms.

The extension was later an infant school and became parish rooms in 1898.

Coun Salim Lorgat, executive member for housing at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: “The opening of the capsule was intriguing and gave us an insight into the history of our wonderful town and the people living in our communities 160 years ago.”

Click here to view our gallery of what was found in the time capsule.