A TIME capsule treasure trove emerged when the bulldozers moved in to flatten a Hindfsord school.

A copy of The Tyldesley Weekly Journal & Atherton News dated September 21 1888 was among the finds stowed under a memorial stone by Victorian catholics.

Demolition men salvaged the memorial when they knocked down the old Sacred Heart RC School building.

A similar dated Tyldesley and Atherton Chronicle and Advertiser, plus editions of The Catholic Times, an Irish newspaper, a copy of the inscription, a Queen Victoria golden jubilee medal and a medal struck for Pope Leo X111's 50th jubilee were also in the cache.

Delighted with the find, former Sacred Heart head Ambrose Lavin said: "The foundation stone will be incorporated in extensions to the parish hall following demolition of the school. It was a lovely surprise."

The inscription - headed Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam - To the greater glory of God - tells us the memorial stone was erected "on the order of Rev Fr James Carr, Canon and Vicar General of the Liverpool Diocese in honour of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus and in commemoration of the Jubilee of his Holiness Leo X111, Supreme Pontiff, by the Most Rev Fr Bernard O'Reilly Bishop of Liverpool, Rev Fr Richard O'Neill Rector of the Church in Tyldesley."

According to The Journal, bricked-up for more than a century, the opening ceremony was held at 4.30pm on Sunday, September 23, 1888; Tyldesley and Leigh St Joseph's bands provided the music with singing by the choir and the children.

The event merited mention of a 4pm train from Leigh to Tyldesley and that a collection would be made and everyone was expected to give silver!

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