Feature Article
Eastern Goods Yard - Update
Eastern Goods Yard enabling works
© John Sturrock
Granary Square Excavations
© John Sturrock
Ramps to underground stables
© John Sturrock
The Assembly Shed, former home to the "Raceway" kart track, has had its roof removed and the ground level lowered in preparation for the new Campus for University of the Arts, London, which includes Central St. Martins College of Art and Design.
The Transit Sheds are having their asbestos cement roofs removed and the walls stabilized with scaffolding. Foundation piles are being sunk inside the Transit Sheds to take the weight of new floors and structures that will rise up to provide educational facilities, office accommodation, retail areas and leisure facilities.
During excavation of these sheds the archaeological survey teams unearthed some very interesting artifacts relating to the original Victorian railways and how the incoming goods were distributed to the rest of Central London.
The west turntable, tracks and platforms were uncovered as well as the hydraulic mechanism that operated them. It shows the ingenuity of the Victorian engineers and how robustly they built the infrastructure.
Cobbled ramps were exposed which allowed horses access to their underground stables. These horses pulled carts loaded with the potatoes, coal, grain etc. that had been delivered by rail.
Brick arches have been found under the Transit Shed walls leading to internal jetties where barges would be loaded with goods before distribution on the Canal network.
The archaeologists are continuing their survey work to build up a more detailed picture of the site.
