Pupils from Ashbourne’s St Oswald’s primary have helped place a time capsule in Millennium Square to mark the transformation of the area as part of the UK Government funded Ashbourne Reborn regeneration programme.
The time capsule contains a commemorative tea towel with self-portraits of every pupil in the 2025 academic year, which was made to celebrate the 200th anniversary of St Oswald’s primary school. It also contains a number of items contributed by Ashbourne Town Council, including a letter from Mayor Councillor Caroline Cooper, and a compilation of information from Ashbourne Historical Centre outlining the history of Millennium Square. It also contains a programme of events that have taken place in Ashbourne town centre during 2025.
Watched by Ashbourne Reborn partners representing local businesses and the community, District Councillor David Hughes, Chair of the Ashbourne Reborn Programme Board and Caroline Cooper, Mayor of Ashbourne Town Council spoke about the historical significance of Millennium Square. Ashbourne Reborn contractors Galliford Try then helped the school children place the time capsule under paving stones in the square to mark the completion of the transformation.
Part of the Highways and Public Realm project, led by the County Council, plans for Millennium Square were developed by Ashbourne Town Council. As part of the Ashbourne Reborn regeneration works, which took place during 2025, the area off St John Street has been transformed. Existing brick walls dating back to the 1960s and the dilapidated ‘elderly person’s rest room’ built in 1971, have been replaced with a planted area of stepped seating made with locally sourced stone to provide a shared community space which wraps around the restored Millennium Clock.
