A TIME capsule buried beneath Malvern’s war memorial could be unearthed to mark the centenary of the start of the First World War.

Resident Mike Charles is working with archaeologist Chantel Summerfield, who also lives in the town, on the project, which could also see the bronze statue in the grounds of Malvern Library cleaned and restored.

Miss Summerfield found out about the capsule’s existence when she read about the war memorial’s inauguration in 1925.

The capsule, described as a “leaden casket”, contains documents and records about Malvern’s role in the war, and soldiers from the town.

“I don’t think many people know about the existence of this capsule,” said Mr Charles. “It would be a suitable way to commemorate the start of the Great War.

“We could open the capsule, see what is inside, perhaps add something if that seems suitable and then reseal it and put it back in place.”

Miss Summerfield specialises in conflict archaeology.

Last year the Gazette reported on her work on tree graffiti by soldiers at military camps.

“It’s early days yet, and we have to find funding, but I hope that we can do it in July next year, 100 years after the war started,” said Mr Charles.

Miss Summerfield hopes to put the capsule’s contents on display in the library for a while before it is reburied.

The unearthing of the capsule could also be accompanied by a ceremony at the memorial, perhaps involving the British Legion, the Armed Forces and youth organisations. Mr Charles and Miss Summerfield will be liaising with the county council’s archaeology department to take the project forward.