Grantham RiverCare Volunteers Find 160-Year-Old Glass Bottle After Flooding
Grantham RiverCare volunteers uncovered vintage litter, including a 160-year-old bottle, during a river cleanup after severe flooding.
Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK, RiverCare, Vintage Litter, Flooding
Grantham: Volunteers found some interesting items while cleaning the river. They discovered a glass bottle that’s at least 160 years old. This happened after heavy flooding hit the town.
The Grantham RiverCare team organized an emergency cleanup in early January. This was one of the worst floods the town has seen in 40 years. The volunteers worked hard to clear the debris.
During their efforts, they found various pieces of vintage litter. The old glass bottle was inscribed with “Imperial, Pick & Company, Westgate, Grantham.” This shop existed in the 1800s.
Other items included a Strike Cola can, a 1980s Pepsi can, and KFC wrappers. They even found a plastic bag from Key Markets, which is about 40 years old, and a Consort Cola can from the 1970s.
Ian Simmons, a co-lead of Grantham RiverCare, noted that finding such old litter is rare. He mentioned that flooding brings up items that have been at the bottom for years.
Ian also pointed out that this litter can last for centuries. He emphasized the importance of cleaning it up, as it won’t disappear on its own.
During the cleanup, volunteers also found a large beanbag that had split. This caused plastic beads to scatter throughout the river. They used dustpans and brushes to collect the beads effectively.
In total, the volunteers gathered 31 bags of litter. They plan to return for their next cleanup in late February. Anyone interested in joining can visit their website for more information.