EXPERTS who examined a mystery bottle discovered beneath a flagstone in Durham Cathedral found another mystery inside.

The glass vessel, which dates from a century ago, was found last week by a cathedral stonemason, Steve Mann, during routine repairs to the floor of the 12th-century Galilee Chapel, near the tomb of the Venerable Bede.

Clearly visible inside was a rolled-up slip of paper bearing the words "Globe Theatre".

The bottle was passed to Durham University's conservation team for further examination. After leaving it for several days to allow the cork to dry, a conservator, Bob Elsey, eased the stopper out and painstakingly removed the paper.

But instead of explaining why someone had hidden it beneath the flagstones, the information it carried only served to increase the mystery.

The paper was a flyer for a May Day matinée performance of English dances and folk songs at the Globe Theatre (now the Gielgud Theatre) in Shaftesbury Avenue, London. On the reverse are three names written in faint blue pencil: Mr W. Wraybole, Mr W. Carter, and Mr G. Yeoman. Alongside is what looks like a stonemason's mark, and words that appear to read "grave diggers". Below them is written "This grave was opened on Sunday May 11th 1913."

The resident archaeologist at Durham Cathedral, Norman Emery, said that they were not aware of any grave in that area, but his examination of the ground under the flags had shown a clear cut, indicating a possible disturbance to the original earth. The line ran east to west, which is usual for all the graves at the cathedral.

"We are fortunate to have records and accounts dating back many years," he said, "and there may be some clues somewhere.

"There is a late-19th century publication that records all graves in Durham City, including those at the cathedral. The first thing to do is to consult this document and see how it compares with existing marked graves, to determine if there are any anomalies.

"Whether they opened the grave deliberately or by accident is not known. We will now attempt to find out who the three men were, and then try and find out whose grave they opened. The reason why they left the note may be one part of the conundrum we will never be able to solve."

This week, one of the men was identified as William Raybole, a stonemason at the cathedral for many years. His granddaughter, Teresa Armatage, aged 78, of High Pittington, near Durham, told a local paper: "It was really emotional when I learned it was his name on the paper."

She said that he had been involved in the exhumation of the relics of St Cuthbert in 1899, before they were reburied in their present resting-place in the cathedral.

But she, too, could shed no light on why the bottle had been placed beneath the flagstones. "They had probably opened a grave by mistake while carrying out work, and left the message as a way of easing their consciences."