A steel time capsule holding pupils' drawings and last week's Berwick Advertiser now lies under Berwick Barracks until 2056. The Barracks reopens in autumn 2027.

A time capsule has been buried at Berwick Barracks, beneath the rooms that will become the new Archive search rooms. It is to be opened in 30 years, in 2056.

Northumberland County Council announced the burial on Thursday 12 November (council news, 12 November 2026). The council says the Barracks restoration is on budget and on schedule, and is due to reopen to the public in autumn 2027.

What is inside

The stainless-steel capsule was made by Fabvent, a local firm. Workers from the site contractor, John Dennis, lowered it into the ground. It holds:

  • key documents about the regeneration of the Barracks
  • details of events held there
  • drawings by Year 4 pupils at Holy Trinity School, showing their lives today and how they imagine the Barracks in 2056
  • last week’s edition of The Berwick Advertiser

There is a second, digital copy. Linda Bankier of Northumberland Archives said everything has been copied into Preservica, the archive’s digital preservation system. “This is a time capsule with a difference, as there are two,” she said. The digital copy updates file formats as they age, so the contents can still be opened if the steel box fails.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund paid for this part of the project.

Who was there

The Lord-Lieutenant of Northumberland, Dr Caroline Pryer, gave a speech before the burial. The Mayor and Sheriff of Berwick attended, with pupils and teachers from Holy Trinity School and staff from Northumberland Archives.

So did the groups behind the Living Barracks project:

  • Berwick Barracks Heritage Trust
  • English Heritage
  • the King’s Own Scottish Borderers
  • The Maltings (Berwick) Trust
  • Northumberland County Council, with the architects, LDN

Dr Pryer called the capsule “an act of optimism, looking forward thirty years”.

What it means for you

  • The Barracks is due to reopen in autumn 2027, according to the council.
  • The Archive search rooms will be in the restored buildings, above the capsule. The council has not yet given an opening date for them.
  • Holy Trinity’s Year 4 pupils will be in their late thirties when their drawings come back out in 2056.