The former Duke of Cumberland pub, in Holcombe, made a surprise

discovery during renovations – a time capsule hidden in the internal walls.

The now pub, Farm Shop and Kitchen was purchased by Toby Brett and his

company, Banwell House Pub Company, in 2010.

Toby and his team ran the pub inbetween lockdowns to give the village a local service, and during this time, he obtained planning permission to develop the space with the addition of the Holcombe Farm Shop & Kitchen.

During the renovations, most of the internal walls were taken down, but the wall between the old snug and the toilet corridor had an existing steel box in it. The time capsule consisted of tobacco tins with coins, tax discs, price lists and letters. The time capsule is dated July 1973 and we believe the landlord at the time was Eric Pockson.

We have made a display in the floor with some of the capsule and put the rest on a noticeboard in the window for all of our visitors to see.

Toby Brett