King’s Cross Central: Eastern Goods Yard
Archaeological Watching Brief, Excavation and Historic Building
Recording
By Helen Hawkins
A programme of archaeological watching brief and excavation was
carried out by Pre-Construct Archaeology Ltd at the Eastern Goods
Yard, King’s Cross Central. The site was located to the north
of King’s Cross Station and comprised a fine example of a
near-complete 19th century railway Goods Yard. The site is to be
converted for use as a University, and will also have shops, commercial
and residential areas. Much of the site lies within a Conservation
Area and many of the buildings are listed. An archaeological condition
was attached to the planning permission for the site.
The King's Cross Central site-the Eastern Goods Yard is
to the right of the Canal
The King’s Cross Central site-the Eastern Goods Yard is to
the right of the Canal
Archaeological investigation was carried out within the Transit
Sheds and Train Assembly Shed. The work revealed the remains of
railway turntables, capstans, platforms, rails and hydraulic pipe
systems. Stables located beneath the Transit Sheds were also investigated
and recorded. The remains of the demolished Hydraulic Engine house
which powered the hydraulic system were also excavated and several
phases of this building, including the hydraulic accumulator towers,
were uncovered. In front of the main Granary building, two railway
turntables were excavated and are to be restored. The Granary basin,
which connected the Regent’s Canal to tunnels extending under
the Granary buildings, was also investigated and the basin walls
and tunnel entrances recorded.
Turntable A after excavation
A programme of historic building recording was also carried out
for all the affected structures. The recording was carried out to
English Heritage Level 4 (the highest level of recording) due to
the importance of the historic structures. Buildings recorded included
the Granary building, the Midlands Goods Shed, the Coal and Fish
Offices and early examples of social housing south of the canal.
The Coal and Fish Offices
The work was carried out in close consultation with both the client
and the main contractor, BAM. The heritage consultants were IHCM.
The work was also closely monitored by the London Borough of Camden
and English Heritage.
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