A TIME capsule has been discovered on a former hospital site in Ramsbottom.

The artefact was uncovered at a building site of the former Aitken Memorial Hospital, more recently called The Ramsbottom Cottage Hospital. It contains a number of coins and a newspaper cutting from the year the hospital was opened in 1898.

The capsule was buried by Lady Aitken, whose family set up the charitable hospital.

Housing developers Eccleston Homes is preparing to complete a small development of 13 houses on the land.

A number of original facets have been saved from the original building during the build, including the time capsule, and either replaced on site or on display at Ramsbottom Library.

Members of the public can visit the library in Carr Street, where a pediment, stained glass windows and a weathervane are on display.

The seven foot pediment from the top of the original hospital building, which features a family crest of the Aitken family has been removed, cleaned and replaced at the entrance of the new housing development.

Eccleston Homes founder, Kevin Marren, attended the date stone’s unveiling. He said: “We’re delighted to incorporate the pediment from the original Aitken Memorial Hospital at the Jubilee Gardens development.

“The stone will continue to be a focus of public interest in the Ramsbottom community, and a reminder of the important heritage of the site.”

Eccleston Homes, Ramsbottom Heritage Society and St Andrew's Primary School have joined together to organise a celebration of the restoration of the historical facets.

Primary school pupils are working to create their own time capsule to bury at the site and a competition to design a family coat of arms has been launched. Eccleston Homes will give prizes to the winners.

Mr Marren added: “Together with St Andrew’s Primary School and The Ramsbottom Heritage Society, we are proud to mark the beginning of a new generation that will make its own local history on the land.”