A handwritten message left inside an empty whisky bottle 67 years ago has been discovered behind a staircase.
The note was found by a joiner during a £3.4m refurbishment project.
It was written on the back of a Ciro nylon hair net packet, an everyday item from the 1950s, and is even dated 12 October 1959.
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It was addressed to whoever might eventually uncover it, and was discovered at the Liversage Trust’s almshouses, Derby.
It has been described as a remarkable snapshot of life in Derby at the time.
Some of the writing has faded over the years, leaving parts of the message too faint to read.
The message reads: “The best of luck mate.
“I hope you are not at war – it’s a terrifying thing war.
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“This was bricked up Oct 12th 1959.
“Just after the general election when the Conservatives got in by a 101 majority.
“It is raining in Derby now for the first time since about April after a first class summer.
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“Derby 1 Portsmouth 0.
“Not doing so well this season Derby.
“Signed W H Braid, 3 Swarkestone Drive, Littleover.”
The bottle itself dates back to the 1940s, according to the trust, while the whisky was long since gone.
Unopened bottles of a similar kind have sold for as much as £300 at auction, the trust said.
Andy Mellors, of the Liversage Trust, said: “Finding the bottle was interesting, but it was the note that really stopped us in our tracks.
“Someone took the time to leave a message for whoever might one day uncover it, never knowing if it would be found.
“The note captures an ordinary day in Derby’s history, yet today it feels incredibly special.
“It gives us a small but very personal connection with someone who worked on these buildings decades ago.”
The discovery was made at No. 87A, where site manager Steve Wooddisse was removing a staircase with the joiner to create space for a new downstairs toilet at the Grade II listed almshouse.
The Liversage Trust is now appealing for anyone who recognises the name W H Braid or the address in Littleover to get in touch.
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