The photo of the George Hotel which had collapsed some years after being hit by a wartime bomb, and below, the message written on the back.
A FASCINATING glimpse of life in post-war Cowes has been unearthed by workmen at Northwood Cemetery.
A time capsule has been discovered during ground stabilisation work to the West Chapel in Newport Road, which is thought to have been hidden in a wall for 54 years.
The capsule was an old blue and white babies dried milk tin and was stuffed with newspapers from 1956, probably from the date it was buried.
Also inside the tin is a timesheet headed T. Westbrook & Sons Ltd, Market Hill, Cowes, dated February 26, 1955. Names on the timesheet include Mr Barnes, Mr Pell and Mr Dawkins.
The timesheet appears to have been written out by an apprentice plumber, Mr Hall, and authorised by the foreman, Mr Counsell.
It is thought the capsule and its contents were hidden by builders during post-war renovations. One interesting item in the tin is a photograph of the collapsed George Hotel, which formerly stood at the bottom of Market Hill.
The building suffered extensive bomb damage during a raid in 1942 and, if the detail on the back of the photo is correct, collapsed some time in 1946.
On the reverse of the photo is written: "This building collapsed and fell just after the war, not during the war. One of our bricklayer’s pushbike (sic) was completely ruined and that was the only casualty. The owner, Les Smith, said a few nasty words as it was almost a new machine and he got no compensation for it. Well, cannot write any more, so will sign off. H. Dawkins and B. Counsell."
• Anyone with further information can contact Barry Sowerby on barry@friendsofnorthwoodcemetery.org.uk
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk