Developer Great Places Housing Group, councillors, representatives from Christ Church and site contractor Tyson Construction gathered at the church for the historic moment when artefacts from 160 years ago were revealed.
The glass bottle had been hidden between two solid blocks of stone, and covered with a brass plaque, in the foundations of the old Hopwood School in the Infirmary area, demolished several years ago.
The bottle was sealed with wax and coins and a written note were visible inside when site foreman Chris Eccles found it in the ground. Great Places is building five new two-bedroom homes for affordable rent on the church land, plus a three-bedroom curate’s house.
Rev Andrew Raynes removed the bottle’s wax seal and damp contents including plans for the former school and Victorian coins were carefully extracted.
Research has revealed that the capsule was buried on March 7th 1850 when the foundation stone for the Tudor gothic style Hopwood School was laid.
John Turner Hopwood, grandson of wealthy textile firm founder Robert Hopwood, performed the honours at the junction of Mosley Street and James Street, now Proctor Street.
Robert Hopwood donated £150 plus land towards the £800 building, originally an extension to the Leyland Charity School for Girls in Thunder Alley.
It was sold to the Blackburn Exchange Company in 1870 to become auction rooms. The extension was later an infant school and then became parish rooms in 1898.
The bottle and its contents will be put on display at the church before being handed to the Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery.
Matthew Harrison, deputy chef executive and director of development at Great Places, said: “This was a really exciting find – the sort of thing that happens once in a lifetime.
“We have sometimes got together with local people to bury time capsules on our development sites but we’ve never dug one up before. It’s absolutely fascinating.”
Rev Andrew Raynes said: “It’s an amazing find. Older members of the church knew of the capsule's existence but didn’t have any hope of retrieving it.”
Cllr Salim Lorgat, executive member for housing at Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said: “The opening of the capsule was intriguing and gave us an insight into the history of our wonderful town and the people living in our communities160 years ago."