ARTIFACTS of local historical significance have been unearthed at a bus depot.

The Xelabus Depot at Barton Park Industrial Estate, Eastleigh is currently undergoing a major refurbishment.

This includes maintenance to the building, including a 14 metre vehicle inspection pit which was installed throughout last week.

Whilst contractors dug down to create a space for the new inspection pit they across some items buried in the dirt.

Items found included parts of an old railway line, a small coffee cup, and a green bottle.

Upon finding these items, Managing Director, Gareth Blair said he was the first one to run inside to get them cleaned off and see what he could find out about them.

The green bottle on closer inspection is marked with the makers name, Aldridges from Bedford Place in Southampton.

Gareth, eager to learn more, researched the company online and found that there used to be a brewery in the Southampton Street which is likely where this bottle came from.

The company appears to have gone out of business in about 1930, meaning the bottle had possibly survived nearly 100 years buried underneath the depot.

The coffee cup, is blue and white, engraved with the letters GWR and apart from a broken handle, is said to be in good condition.

Staff say they have no idea how old it is and how long it has been there.

Gareth Blair said: “Its remarkable how long these pieces of history have lasted and we are really interested to know more about the Bedford Place brewery.

“After watching all the programmes on TV about things like this, to actually find it at our own premises is quite a thing.

“You just never know what else could be down there.”

“We’re not entirely sure what we are going to do with them, but at the moment, the two artifacts have been cleared up and they’re just on the shelf in the office on display.”

Staff also took a section of the railway track and cleaned it up to be placed on display.