Residents urged to help capture modern Wisbech life in library’s time capsule

WISBECH residents are being asked to help provide items for a time capsule which will be sealed as part of the library’s first birthday celebrations.

The time capsule idea was launched last February when the library was refurbished. It aims to preserve a selection of artefacts which will enable future generations to find out about life in Wisbech today.

Residents have until January 29 to come forward with items before the capsule is sealed next month during the anniversary celebrations.

Cambridgeshire County Councillor Sir Peter Brown, Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “Wisbech is a great example of a library that is managed and run for the community. It is fitting that the community help celebrate its first birthday and provide items for the time capsule.

“We need items which describe our daily lives – what we wear and eat, where we live, what we use every day and how we spend our time - what Wisbech was like as a place to live. The capsule will be opened in 100 years time – when Wisbech and the lives of its inhabitants will surely be very different.

“If you have anything you would like to offer for inclusion we would love to hear from you. Take the item along to Wisbech Library by Saturday 29th January. Please be aware that in order to make a successful time capsule not all items may be suitable for inclusion.”

It is a fitting project for the library in Ely Place, which was the previous site of the memorial stone of the baptist church.

When the stone was laid in 1871, a bottle was placed with it containing copies of local newspapers and sermons and photographs of the minister and deacons of the church. These are now preserved in Cambridgeshire archives, after the bottle was discovered when the church was demolished in the 1970s.