A time capsule celebrating the rich and unique heritage of Biddulph has been buried today (5 December) to commemorate the completion of the town’s new £10m primary care centre, which opened to patients earlier this year.
The contents of the time capsule, which will remain buried for 50 years, were chosen by pupils from the Knypersley First School with a little help from Biddulph Town Museum and Biddulph Town Council. The children chose objects they felt best represented the world we live in and how the town is now, as well as celebrating Biddulph’s past.
A school sweatshirt, a diamond jubilee mug, a Horrid Henry book, a Union flag, the Argos catalogue and information about the history of Knypersley First School were among the items selected by the local children for the time capsule. The pupils have also included their predictions of what life will be like in 2062.
Biddulph Town Council provided a number of items to showcase the town as it is today and to celebrate its past, including postcards, the Town Crier’s Diamond Jubilee proclamation, a town centre guide and a heritage leaflet. Biddulph Town Museum also donated posters and postcards to be buried in the capsule.
The time capsule project has been organised by construction company Seddon, the contractors behind the construction of Biddulph Primary Care Centre and is one of a number of initiatives run with the local school, including plant pot painting with the after school club and a series of health and safety talks.
The landmark four-storey building brings together two local GP practices alongside other primary care services to provide better healthcare facilities to more than 21,000 patients. Delivered by the Prima 200 LIFT partnership and its private sector development partner Prime, the 3,500 sqm building was commissioned by NHS North Staffordshire and designed by One Creative Environments Ltd (One).
Julian Kavanagh of Prima 200 LIFTCo added: “The development of the new primary care centre and the wider regeneration programme for Biddulph is an important chapter in the town’s history. It’s heartening to see the town really supporting these key initiatives and commemorating its success for future generations in this way.”
Seddon business unit manager Richard Sapcote said: “The new primary care centre is a landmark building for the community. By arranging the time capsule initiative, we’ve given the Knypersley First School pupils the chance to leave their own legacy for posterity and think about their community’s past and present. Helped by the museum and Town Council, the pupils have impressed us with their imaginative choices.”
Robert Worrall, the curator of Biddulph Town Museum, said: “We thought this was a great idea for our future generations to see, first hand, what life was like for the people of Biddulph. We feel it is really important that we keep the history of Biddulph alive and this, along with the development of our new medical centre, has achieved that goal. This truly is putting Biddulph’s history into the future.”
Councillor Linda Deaville, Mayor of Biddulph, said: “The Town Council has placed in the capsule a letter of greetings to the residents of Biddulph in 2062. This includes an explanation of the regeneration of the town during recent years, starting with the construction of the inner relief road and culminating with the building of the new Health Centre.
The letter also states that the Town Council’s hopes for the future are that our wonderful small town of Biddulph continues to increase in prosperity and that in 2062 it is still a place where the community comes together to live and work harmoniously in this beautiful corner of the Staffordshire Moorlands.”
Steve Hance of One Creative Environments Ltd said: “Biddulph Primary Care Centre is a landmark building which has been designed to stand the test of time. Its architecture is unique to Biddulph, celebrating the town’s past and future in its own way – in 50 years’ time when the capsule is opened, the primary care centre will be standing proud on this very same spot, ensuring the next generation has the same access to first class healthcare.”
Dr Sarah Raper, Executive Director of Community Health Partnerships commented: “I’m delighted to see this magnificent health centre now open for business, delivered as part of the LIFT Programme. CHP‘s aim is to create modern, high quality facilities that help to improve the health and wellbeing of local people. I am certain that Biddulph Primary Care Centre will achieve that aim and be valued by both patients and the health care professionals who work there.”
Nick Pritchard, Local Area Team Co-ordinator, NHS Property Services Shropshire and Staffordshire said: “We are very pleased to see this new primary care centre in North Staffordshire fully operational and open to patients. This centre has been a long time in the making and is a great example of how working in close partnership with CHP can bring such excellent benefits to all. It’s great to see how the centre will benefit the residents of Staffordshire and the staff who provide excellent health services from them. Absolutely everyone involved should be very proud of this achievement which will continue to help improve health services for residents in Biddulph and the surrounding areas.”
