A secondary school has discovered a historical capsule from the 1970s containing a confiscated stink bomb and staff payslips.

The brick-sized container was found buried in one of the walls at The Thomas Aveling School in Rochester.

The capsule was first hidden within the walls of the school in Arethusa Road in January 1973, when the school’s new A Block building was extended.

Back then the site was known as Warren Wood Boys.

It closed in 1990 and was re-developed with Warren Wood Girls and Highfield School to form what is known today.

Marking its 50th anniversary, pupils and teachers were invited to see what was inside the historical package.

Cover teacher Sophie Hewitt helped organise the unveiling.

She said: “I'll be honest, I've worked here for 15 years and I had no idea that it was even there.

“I walk past it every day, so it was a big shock to me.

“We couldn't believe how much stuff was in there. Considering it was brick-sized, they had packed it full of stuff.”

Along with a school report and timetable, there was a canteen menu, an application for absence, a letter to parents and a tuberculosis vaccination slip.

Staff payslips were also inside, as well as some badges and an ordnance survey of Chatham and Maidstone.

The head teacher's salary was £194.96 per month, with the secretary being paid just £73.33.

Sophie says the students were amazed at how low the wages were.

“The kids couldn’t believe it,” the 36-year-old added. “It was quite funny because our head came in and said ‘oh blimey, I think I need a pay rise’.

“It's such a difference. The secretary's wage was practically nothing.

“There was also a different school badge to what we have now, as it was an all-boys school back then.”

But what excited everyone the most was the confiscated items – three chunky metal rings and a stink bomb – all still intact.

“They couldn't believe that they still had them back then!” Sophie said.

“I think they were just amazed at the amount of handwritten stuff that was in there.

“The school timetable was completely handwritten. Also, there was a load of film rolls for a projector.

“It was really old and they were trying to figure out how it works.

“However, the basic stuff was still the same – like a protractor and compass.”

The items will be put on display in reception for those who are interested to come and see them.

Students now have the task of making and burying a new time capsule, which is set to be opened in 2075.

“They're the ones who saw it all revealed, so we'd quite like them to be involved with putting it back in,” Sophie explained.

“They are thinking of adding similar things. For example our prefect badges, the postcards that we give out when someone's done well and our timetables.

“We also joked about putting fake lashes or earrings in there – just some of the confiscated items that you would have these days.”