Lester Hillman writes:

A new book 'Tracks & Traces’ with an accompanying DVD is likely to be of interest to many members. It charts the fascinating archaeology uncovered with the construction of the high speed rail link between London and the continent. Although there are surface structures in Islington such as the Corsica Street vent shaft the tunnels are deep below the level of archaeological interest. It means there is no direct reference to Islington but the book charts a fascinating archaeological journey.

Islington based High Speed 1 Limited (HS1) operates the rail link and commissioned the book. Eurostar too have their headquarters in Islington within the Regent Quarter complex North of Pentonville Road. Rachel Starling based at HS1’s HQ, 73 Collier Street, London N1 9BE heads up the list of key people who helped to bring it to fruition. 'Tracks & Traces' was published by IC Art and Design Limited, 58 Lamb's Conduit Street, London WC1N 3LW.

Tracing Tracks

It is now more than a decade since ‘Current Archaeology’ featured early reports about the work in Kent (No.168 Vol XIV No.12, published May 2000 pages 448 - 465). The Kent archaeology was celebrated in a booklet published at the time of completion of Section 1 of the rail link in 2003. Two years ago archaeological highlights featured in 'Team Work' the two volumes which chart  the completion of HS1 (published by Merrell Publishers Limited 2008 for London & Continental Railways). In 2009 an exhibition of archaeology was held in the Ebbsfleet International Station. Eighteenth and nineteenth century items from King's Cross were displayed alongside casts of 400,000 year old elephant remains found in North Kent. The brochure which accompanied  that exhibition began an archaeological journey "leaving St Pancras and passing through a tunnel beneath the streets of inner London...". The latest volume traces that journey in more detail and it will no doubt be one revisited,  incorporating new excursions. Further specialist academic papers are due to be published.

More digging

Construction pressures at associated sites, capitalising on the new HS1 connectivity, are also yielding archaeological dividends. In the vicinity of Islington there is the long term development of King's Cross Central, the former railway lands straddling York Way. The King's Cross Construction Skills Centre further along York Way in Islington opened on 23rd March 2009. It offers young people an excellent place to equip themselves with skills for a heritage construction environment.

The Royal Town Planning Institute  'Award for Heritage', sponsored by English Heritage, went to the new rail link in 2008. In appointing specialist contractors the Heritage and Archaeology provisions included a special heritage induction programme for 500 staff at St Pancras.

Digging for Health 16 - 21 April 2011

The controversial United Kingdom Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI) approved by Camden Council 16th December 2010 is destined to occupy a site alongside St Pancras International. The site extending over several acres is currently the subject of archaeology interest. The widely publicised invitation to visit the site was taken up by Islington Archaeology & History Society's Academic Adviser. Just before Easter there were opportunities to see works in progress, view the exhibition and learn more about engagement particularly that being directed to young people and local communities. The objective on this site has been to find out more about the steam engines and pressurised water equipment used to power the heavy machinery. The contact points for further information are, e mail   and www.ukcmri.ac.uk/events

Traction Traces

The Eurostars have been operating scheduled services in and out of St Pancras since 14th November 2007. Along with the domestic ' 2012 Javelin'  trains they cross Islington in tunnels more than 20 metres down. However, the bigger picture offered by this archaeology study is unique. It is a 109 km slice through the south east and the volume explores the interface with thousands of years of human activity.

Helen Glass in the introduction describes the scale."At the peak of the archaeological fieldwork there were over a hundred archaeologists working along the route...in fact when construction officially started in 1998 there were more archaeologists on site than construction workers."  In the acknowledgements eight archaeology teams along with specialist advisors and contractors and some of the 100 or so individual archaeologists are listed. 

In the foreword Julian Richards, familiar on TV as a broadcaster on archaeology, highlights the recognition given for setting exemplary standards of archaeological practice.

Islington Grandstand

Islington has had a grandstand view of much of the archaeological work. The relocation of buildings associated with rail and gas infrastructure continues to shape vistas. As the archaeology 'train' pulls out of St Pancras ‘Tracks & Traces devotes six pages to the works in the churchyard around St Pancras Old Church. The book hurtles down the 109km of the route to the Channel Tunnel, accomplishing the journey in one hundred lavishly illustrated pages (or just a few minutes if you take the high speed DVD route). At intervals along the route the book assesses the wider geographical significance of the finds.

Priced at £15 including the DVD and with a print run of one thousand copies it is expected to be distributed and available in shops by the Summer. Foyles Bookshop in St Pancras International would be a good place to try.

The Society is naturally exploring the scope for an evening presentation about the work delivered by an Islington based company located here at the end of a priceless archaeological seam.