Drivers will be aware of diversions in place at Queens Drive as work takes place on the bridge which spans the River Irvine. A recent discovery by workers on the bridge was delivered into the hands of our curators at the Dick Institute.

A time-capsule was discovered, which was placed within the new bridge in 1972, which replaced the earlier Victoria Bridge. While the old bridge was being built in 1887, an earlier time capsule had been installed to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. The local Free Masons were involved in arranging this. In 1972 the Victorian time capsule was retrieved. It contained coins and stamps which are now in the Dick Institute collections. The 1972 time capsule consisted of a briefcase ‘sealed’ with blue tack – a far less thorough arrangement than the Victorians would have put in place. Nevertheless, from the 1972 time capsule we have saved 4 copies of the Kilmarnock Standard from the period and transparent sheets recording new road systems. There were also two booklets relating to town plans which are in very poor condition and what may well have been a polaroid photograph from the time of installation. The image has not survived. The Standards are in remarkably good condition. One dated Jan 7^th 1972, features an article on the Victorian time capsule with a Dick Institute staff member (pictured above) examining the contents. We have yet to identify the person in the accompanying photo - so if you're reading this or know who that person might be please come forward. 

The briefcase below and some of the contents - some preserved better than others!