Century-old time capsule uncovered at former hospital now on public display
Date of release: 11 April 2025
A century old time capsule unearthed by developers working at the former Grade II Listed Royal Hospital in Wolverhampton is now on public display.
The lead box, buried during the construction of a new wing dedicated to King Edward VII in 1912, was discovered during work by housing association whg to convert the building into a new residential development called Nightingale House.
After meticulous conservation by experts at Ogilvie Vaile Conservation, in partnership with The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity, the capsule’s contents are now on public display at Wolverhampton Archives as part of Wolverhampton Hospitals’ Heritage Collection.
The historical items include an array of well-preserved artefacts, including three newspapers from 1912, an invitation to the foundation stone-laying ceremony at the Royal Hospital dated 15 February 1912, a map of Wolverhampton, annual reports from St. Catherine’s Convalescent Home and Sister Dora’s Convalescent Home (1910–1911), and a photograph of doctors and nurses standing proudly in front of the hospital.
Rebecca Bennett Casserly, Corporate Director of Development, said: “This extraordinary discovery adds a new chapter to the story of Nightingale House and the Royal Quarter.
“The time capsule is a poignant reminder of the hospital’s vital role in Wolverhampton’s history. As we create modern, sustainable homes here, we’re proud to honour the legacy of those who shaped this building over a century ago.”
Elinor Cole, Arts and Heritage Co-ordinator at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Charity, said: “We are thankful to whg for passing on this extraordinary find and enabling us to take care of it as part of our National Lottery Heritage Fund project Care, Create, Conserve. Louise Vaile, Conservator, has done an excellent job at treating the delicate paper objects and enabling them to form part of our exhibition.”
The former Royal Hospital, which closed its doors in 1997, has been sympathetically converted into a wellbeing scheme for over 55s by Morro Partnerships on behalf of whg. Now renamed Nightingale House the building sits at the heart of the Royal Quarter a new residential place where 450 homes are being created.
The time capsule and its contents are now available for public viewing at Wolverhampton Archives based in the Molineux Hotel Building in Wolverhampton.
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