I bought a flat and found a 1940s treasure trove in my loft

Kirsty Geddes, who purchased a flat in Dumfries last August, has been extensively renovating her new home. While working alongside local joiner Jordan Walters to refurbish the top-floor apartment on Great King Street, the pair stumbled upon a remarkable collection of historical items hidden beneath the floorboards, dating back to the 1940s.

The assortment of discoveries includes a fire extinguisher marked with the year 1942, newspapers published shortly after the D-Day landings, and an empty tin labeled “whole chicken in jelly.” Kirsty, who works in marketing and communications, is eager to use these artefacts to piece together the history of the building. Among other finds are an empty Armstrong and Dickie stout bottle, believed to have originated from the aerated waterworks on the nearby Whitesands, as well as rodent repellent, old cigarette packets, and numerous vintage newspapers.

Several newspapers uncovered provide intriguing wartime insights: a Daily Mail edition from 12 June 1944 reports on the “battle rages around empty Caen” and a “trap closing on Nazis,” while a Sunday Mail issue from 1 October 1944 announces, “Allies are poised for Autumn assault on Germany.” The Dumfries and Galloway Standard from 16 December 1944 features Christmas adverts and social event listings. Additional items found include cigarette packs, playing cards, household cleaners, and an insecticide known as ‘flit powder.’

Reflecting on her findings, Kirsty, who is a designer by profession, expressed fascination with the variety of typography and design seen in the artefacts. She described the fire extinguisher as “really beautiful” and noted, “The fire extinguisher was one of the first things that I found within the property and I was quite cautious when I saw it because it looks so far removed from a usual fire extinguisher. It’s really beautiful to see the iteration of where fire extinguishers came from and where they are now.” Among other items, she also uncovered remnants of two envelopes bearing an address and a name, possibly “Mrs. Latimer,” which she hopes to connect to the building’s previous residents by studying the original hand-drawn title deeds. Kirsty has invited anyone with knowledge of the building’s history or former occupants to get in touch

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