A PIECE of 19th century history has been uncovered in Bolton - by a group of 21st century workmen.

The workers discovered a time capsule in a lead box containing old coins and three newspapers dated July, 1860.

The men - Seamus Mcloughlin, Lawrence Mcloughlin and John Playforth - were on a building site in Presto Street, Farnworth, laying the foundations for a new 23-apartment development when Mr Mcloughlin, aged 30, of Chorley, hit a hard spot.

He said: "I was digging when we hit a solid foundation stone.

"I lifted it out of the hole to find that it was a hand carved sandstone with a perfectly cut out square in which the lead box was fitted.

"The lead had eroded over the years so we had to force the box open.

"Inside, we discovered five coins and some old newspapers.

"Whoever made this stone made it to fit the lead box knowing someone, one day, would find it."

The capsule had been punctured and water had leaked inside the box, damaging the newspapers inside.

It was buried seven years before the Bolton Evening News was first published, but included other local papers of the time - a copy of The Bolton Chronicle, printed on July 7, 1860, The Watchman and Wesleyan Advertiser, printed on July 4, 1860, and The Manchester Daily Examiner and Times.

However, the five coins, which were carefully wrapped in the newspaper, have "polished up" well.

The builders are now hoping to find out if the coins - a silver sixpence, silver threepenny bit and an old penny, all from the 1850s - are valuable.

Mr Mcloughlin said: "The newspapers were wet-through so we immediately put them out to dry.

"One of the stories on the front of the Bolton Chronicle was about a local shop.

"I polished up the coins and they now look quite good.

"It's a pretty cool discovery. We'll now have to wait and see what it is worth."

A map of the area, dated 1850, shows the site of the find as undeveloped land.

But, by 1893, a Methodist Chapel had been built, along with some terraced houses.

The capsule was found on the site of the church, which was demolished in 1979.

More recently, a garage workshop was operating on the land.

Mr Playforth, aged 53, from Leyland, said: "It was a case of being nosey and now there is every possibility that the items in the box are of some value."