“Lost Secrets of the Past: A 117-Year-Old Message in a Bottle Discovered in Edinburgh’s King’s Theatre!”
Mike Hume, the 48-year-old donor and historian who finally brought this message to light after 119 years, described the find as “astonishing.”
“Like A Scene Out Of Indiana Jones“: Finding The Message In A Bottle At King’s Theatre
Mike HumeThe crevice in the proscenium arch where Mike Hume found the message in a bottle.
In December 2024, Hume, who is also a historian and theatre photographer, was given a special behind-the-scenes tour of King’s Theatre as it was being restored in preparation for a spring 2026 reopening.
The work is extensive, according to a statement by Fiona Gibson, chief executive of Capital Theatres, describing the restoration project as “not just a refurbishment” but rather “a once-in-a-lifetime transformation of one of Edinburgh’s most beloved cultural landmarks.”
As Hume was touring the theatre, he noticed a gap behind a decorative plaster crown situated on the proscenium arch above the stage. Out of pure curiosity, he decided to stick his hand in — and made the discovery of a lifetime.
“It really was like as scene out of Indiana Jones,” Hume told the BBC. “It was a bit damp and there was all this crumbly plaster and stuff in there — then my hand stumbled upon this solid object and I pulled out this glass bottle.”
Capital TheatresCapital Theatres’ Abby Pendlebury with the bottle found hidden at King’s Theatre.
The top of the bottle had been dipped in plaster to keep it sealed, but Hume was able to see that there was a note inside. The plaster made it all but impossible to open the bottle without damaging it, however. So, Hume took a photo of the note on his phone and could just barely make out the name “W S Cruikshank” written on it.
