On Friday 21 November, we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the modern railway in the UK by burying a special time capsule at Claremont Park.

Brent Cross Town is the neighbourhood at the heart of the Brent Cross Cricklewood regeneration programme and as home to Thameslink’s newest station, Brent Cross West, we were delighted to be asked to host the Railway 200 time capsule here.

Local community groups were invited to attend and contribute to the time capsule, including Junior Travel Ambassadors from Claremont Primary School and students from Mapledown School who have been learning about transport and community. We were also joined by parents, residents and Cricklewood Ward Councillors, Councillor Anne Clarke and Councillor Alan Schneiderman who led the capsule burial at Claremont Park.

The event began at the Visitor Pavilion where attendees gathered to see the capsule items in person for the very last time before they were sealed. Speeches about Railway 200 and Brent Cross West’s significance in this celebration were given by Thameslink’s Senior Community Partnerships Plan and Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Patrick Ladbury and Councillor Alan Schneiderman. Everyone then made their way to Claremont Park to bury the time capsule together.

Councillor Alan Schneiderman, Barnet Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change and Cricklewood Ward Member, said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen to host the Railway 200 time capsule at Brent Cross Town, home to London’s newest railway station Brent Cross West. As the area continues to develop it is a great opportunity to work alongside our local community to capture the past, present and future to be uncovered by generations to come.”

Students from Claremont Primary School also shared with us their thoughts on the day, including Eduard in Year 5 who said: “Today day was special for me because I have never seen a time capsule before and exciting because a kid of the future could read my letter when they find the capsule.” Avery in Year 6, added: “It was a really enjoyable morning. I loved being there because it was such an experience helping bury the capsule and knowing it is going to be there in a 100 years or so.”

What’s in the time capsule?

We asked the local community for contributions since October and have been collecting items that represent different groups in the area:

1. A5 leaflet – distributed in early December 2023 to promote the station opening day.
2. Ceramic Brent Cross West badge – handcrafted by local resident and small business owner Laura Halliday. 50 of the badges were made and handed out to guests.
3. Three letters – handwritten by year 4 and 5 students from Claremont Primary School about what life looks like today for them.
4. Class photo – Mapledown School students who have participated in the capsule ceremony and added their thumbprints to the back of the photo.
5. Co-op member card and receipt – representing the Co-op store which officially opened at Brent Cross Town on the same day the time capsule was buried.
6. Printed photos – showcasing old and current photos of the Whitefield Estate, photos of Brent Cross West’s opening day, Clitterhouse Playing Field and the Brent Cross Town development as of October 2025.
7. A5 Newsletter – Brent Cross Town’s Winter 2025 newsletter.
8. USB – Thameslink digital scrapbook, magazine, network map and social impact report.
9. Postcard – representing Thameslink’s Every Stop campaign reminder.
10. Mind T Shirt – a symbol of Thameslink’s commitment to mental health support.
11. Booklet – Thameslink guide for supporting passenger accessibility.
12. Lanyard – a token from Thameslink’s RailBlazer campaign to celebrate colleagues.
13. Thameslink Badge – a memento of Step-Up challenge.
14. Fountain Maquette (model) – representing Neighbourhood Square and The Fountain at Brent Cross Town.
15. Scouts badge and compass – representing local scouts club from 3^rd Golders Green Scouts.
16. Small badges of Brent Cross Town

Students also received special Thameslink merchandise gifts to take home as mementos from the day. We will also be marking this occasion with a plaque installation at Claremont Park in the next few weeks, keep an eye out for it. Thank you to everyone who contributed and celebrated sealing history, who knows when our capsule will be discovered!

Click here to find out more about Railway 200. Keep up to date with the latest news, events and activities happening across Brent Cross Cricklewood by signing up to our e-newsletter here.