Plymouth residents urged to help curate new Armada Way time capsule

Residents in Plymouth have been invited to help decide what items will be placed inside a new time capsule set to be buried beneath Armada Way.

The capsule is due to be installed next summer and will remain sealed until 2047, marking 100 years since Armada Way was rebuilt following the Second World War. 

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It is intended to capture a snapshot of life in the city today, as well as people’s hopes and aspirations for the future.

Plymouth City Council said a working group has been set up to oversee the project and ensure it reflects the diversity and character of the city. 

The group includes young people, local business representatives, and individuals from cultural, environmental and voluntary sectors.

Items being considered for inclusion range from photographs of landmarks taken by young people to objects representing Plymouth’s naval history and its connection to the sea. 

Sporting items and other everyday objects are also being explored as part of the collection.

Residents are being encouraged to submit their own ideas for items that reflect life in 2026. 

Suggestions must fit themes such as community and belonging, creativity and innovation, nature and the marine environment, and everyday life. 

All items must be non-perishable and small enough to fit inside a capsule measuring 23 centimetres in diameter.

A special element of the project focuses on young adults in the city. 

Twenty-one people who will turn 21 in 2026 are being invited to write letters to their future selves. 

These letters will be sealed in the capsule and opened when the writers reach the age of 42.

The project also includes a “Taste of Plymouth” initiative, inviting residents to submit meaningful recipes to be included in a printed cookbook. 

The collection will feature 100 recipes, each accompanied by a short personal story and a photograph, offering insight into the city’s culture and community life.

In a statement, the council said the time capsule will give “future Plymothians a glimpse into the lives, tastes, and stories of our time”.

The deadline for submissions, including for the 21 year olds and recipe entries, is a month’s time on Friday 8 May 2026.