It’s a mystery. What’s happened to two time capsules said to be stored within the wall of an old Barclays Bank.
Lynne Mills, a local resident said “I used to go to barclays bank in Carshalton High Street every day for the company I worked for, and in the wall there were 2 time capsules one dated 1877 and one 1977”
“I used to see them every day. They were in the front wall inside between the 2 windows. They were one above the other approximately where the 2 square stones are below the hanging basket bracket, but on the inside of the building.”
Robert Frogley was a manager at the branch and said “When I was manager there I often wondered what was in it, and when it would eventually be opened.”
The building, which is still there and now an estate agent, didn’t always look like this. The earliest photo found shows the building without the dormer windows, and the road is still a dirt track. J Haydon Butcher is advertised on the side of the building.
In this late 19th century photo it was divided into two shops. On the left Providence House and the other says Gardner.
So where did the 1877 time capsule originate from and does anyone here remember creating the 1977 one?
Caroline Richardson says “I remember that. I was one of the kids that put something in the 1977 time capsule. Can’t remember what it was though!”
Secret Carshalton spoke to Sutton Archives who said “I was aware of a time capsule or two in the collection but these don’t appear to be from Barclays Bank. The only ones we have are the contents of a time capsule found during the demolition of Christ Church, Wallington [in 1992] relating to Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee 1887, and one for a housing development in 1999.”
Barclays Bank in Carshalton closed on 11 December, 2009. Could the time capsules have been transferred to the Sutton branch? We’ve approached Barclays Bank head office for comment and are awaiting a response.
Lynne said “I’ve been into the estate agent that’s there now and there were no sign of them anymore, no one who now works there knew what happened to them.”
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Lynne said “I just would love to know what was in them.”
Are you curious too?
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The top image is a mock up, but could be an example of what a lost time capsule looks like, providing a glimpse into a moment in Carshalton’s past. The building is at 14 High Street, on the corner of The Square.
