In: HS2

News and updates relating to MOLA Headland Infrastructure's archaeological work for the HS2 project

The value of excavating Park Street to understanding the development of Birmingham
July 5, 2019

Josephine Adams is a historical researcher and specialist in burials in 19th century Birmingham. In this blog she explores past excavations in Birmingham and the potential of the Park Street burial ground excavations, being undertaken by MOLA Headland on behalf of LM for the HS2 project, to allow a better…

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MOLA Headland archaeologists excavating the burial of Lucy Lawrence, mother of Sir Thomas Lawrence PRA FRS, a leading English portrait painter and the fourth president of the Royal Academy (c) HS2, courtesy of MOLA Headland
The artists of St James’s burial ground revealed
June 5, 2019

Robert Hartle, Senior Archaeologist for MOLA Headland Infrastructure is currently working on the archaeological excavation of the 18th and 19th century St James’s burial ground at Euston for Costain Skanska Joint Venture (CSjv) on behalf of HS2. In this blog Robert delves into the burial ground’s artistic connections and what…

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Assessing human remains during an archaeological excavation: What can we learn?
May 29, 2019

Don Walker is one of the Senior Osteologists undertaking archaeological excavation and research at Park Street burial ground on behalf of LM for HS2. In this blog he explores what happens on site and what we can learn from excavating and assessing human remains. Archaeologists undertaking burial ground excavations take…

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Steve Bell’s political cartoon (1994) illustrating how attitudes to population growth endure through the years.
Park Street burial ground and Birmingham’s population expansion
April 17, 2019

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Cartwheel two pence coins made at the Soho Mint, Birmingham, England, © courtesy of Detecting
All Change Please! Exploring Birmingham’s minting history
March 8, 2019

1797 was the year that the first top hat debuted on top of a haberdasher’s head; the year that poet William Wordsworth was suspected of being a French spy whilst the war with France raged on; the Bank of England issued the first one-pound and two-pound notes, and the year…

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Why do archaeologists get excited by named burials?
January 24, 2019

Archaeological excavation at St James’s Piccadilly burial ground in Euston for HS2 is well underway and we are uncovering a large number of burials with surviving name plates. These plates allow us to identify the induvial buried. With over 40,000 burials expected to be excavated and roughly ten percent of…

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Trainee Archaeologists, Eleanor, Iram and Mick on site at the Park Street excavation’
Meet the MOLA Headland trainees uncovering new careers in archaeology on HS2
January 17, 2019

HS2’s archaeology programme is Europe’s biggest dig and is providing fascinating insights into the everyday lives of the people and communities who made modern Britain. It is also a great opportunity to bring fresh talent into the sector and upskill local people. In Birmingham, we’re working with partners: Laing O’Rourke…

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Volunteers work with archaeologists to record gravestones for HS2 (c) HS2 courtesy of MOLA Headland Infrastructure
Local volunteers record gravestones of their 18th and 19th century forebears  
December 22, 2018

Over the summer an enthusiastic team of volunteers worked alongside our archaeologists to record the inscriptions of over 350 gravestones associated with St James’s burial ground in Euston, London. The gravestones are being studied for the HS2 archaeology programme. In this blog Community Engagement Officer, Paul McGarrity, tells us more….

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Birmingham button making industry
Bright as a button: archaeologists reveal Birmingham’s links with the humble button
December 11, 2018

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A team of expert archaeologists excavate burials at Park Street in Birmingham (c) HS2 courtesy of MOLA Headland Infrastructure
Archaeological excavation at Park Street burial ground underway
November 22, 2018

Archaeological excavations at  the site of the 19th century Park Street burial ground in Birmingham are up and running. Part of wider archaeological investigations taking place along the Phase One stretch of the HS2 rail route, the Park Street site is located on what will be the Birmingham Curzon Street…

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