Historic artefacts which lay buried beneath a Baildon school for more than 115 years, have finally been unveiled to the last generation of its pupils.

The contents of a glass time capsule, which had been laid under a foundation stone at Tong Park Primary School on the day it opened on October 3, 1891, were revealed at a ceremony at the site of the now demolished school yesterday.

About 40 people turned up to witness the unveiling of the special foundation stone, which was returned to the former school grounds.

The last children to attend Tong Park were invited back and were fascinated by a horde of pristine coins and rolled up newspapers from the 19th century, including a copy of the Bradford Observer, a forerunner of the Telegraph & Argus, which were discovered inside the time capsule.

The items had been preserved in perfect condition even though the cork which secured the jar had disintegrated when it was removed from the ground 16 years ago.

Local historian, Arthur Edwick, 73, of Baildon, has been keeping the precious stone and capsule safe since he bargained with the demolition team who pulled the school down.

The stone, which is inscribed with the name of Tong Park's first school board chairman, John Metcalfe, used to sit proudly on the corner of the school walls looking out over the boy's side of the school playground but has been resting outside Mr Edwick's house since he rescued it.

He managed to barter with the workmen to secure the stone for £20 and gave the three workmen £5 of beer money each for the capsule.

The return of the stone was made possible by a £400 grant by Shipley Area Committee's Community Chest Fund and help from Bradford Council's Parks and Landscapes Service.

Mr Edwick, who unveiled the stone, said: "I have been interested in local history for 40 years and I like to collect things.

"I collected the stone with my son and we put it in a pick-up truck, but it was so heavy it pushed down on the axles.

"I managed to persuade my son to take it away and we got it reduced to about a third of its size. I always had it in mind to put it back at the school grounds and I'm grateful for the Council for coming up with the money."

John Briggs, a former councillor for Baildon, who helped organise the unveiling ceremony, said: "The school children who attended can say they have taken part in a bit of history. It was amazing to see such old items so well preserved and the children were very interested to see what was inside."

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth said: "It is great we have been able to help have this stone cleaned and laid in an appropriate location where visitors to the new recreation ground can see and enjoy the stone."

Now, the former Tong Park pupils, who transferred to Baildon Church of England School, will be deciding what to put into a 2007 time capsule which is to be buried under the returned stone along with the original capsule.