Museum of London - Archaeology

View eastwards across the site to St Pancras Station showing the area of the Milk and Fish Shed

The archaeological exploration is taking place ahead of construction of the UKCMRI. Before building commences archaeologists will be excavating the site to unravel its rich industrial history. The public open days are an opportunity for locals to visit the archaeological site and see the dig in full swing. There will be a chance to speak with the archaeologists about their work and what has been discovered. Objects from the dig will be on display and children will get the chance to don a hardhat and try their hand at digging. 

Before the goods yard was constructed in 1887 the land was occupied by slum housing. In its time, the goods yard played an important role in the everyday lives of Londoners. It was a massive centre for the distribution of fresh products, such as milk and fish. The goods were brought into London by train, early each morning, from the countryside in the east of England and the Midlands. The yard was heavily bombed in WWII and eventually demolished in the 1950s and 1960s.

Unloading milk at the Somers Town Goods Yard, 1890 - 1900; © National Railway Museum, Science & Society Picture Library

The Chief Executive of UKCMRI, Paul Nurse, said: “This area has an interesting history and it is important that it is fully explored archaeologically before UKCMRI is built.  We very much look forward to seeing the results of the Museum of London explorations on the site.”

Museum of London Archaeologist Louise Davies said: “The excavation at Somers Town Goods Yard will offer a more complete picture of the fascinating industrial history of the Kings Cross area. The community activities on the site give Londoners a chance to see the excavations up close. Aspiring young archaeologists will have the opportunity to find out more about how archaeology works in London and can even have a go themselves.”

Archaeologists recording railway sleepers from the low-level railway in the area of the Milk and Fish Shed

Notes to editors

1. Somers Town Goods Yard archaeology open days
   Location: Brill Place, NW1 1HG, behind the British Library
   FREE
   Dates and Times
   Tours start at 9am, 10.30am, 1pm, 2.30pm on Saturday 16 and Monday 18 - Thursday 2 April
   Enquiries: 0800 028 6731 or email info@ukcmri.ac.uk
2. For more press information or images, please contact Nicola Kalimeris nkalimeris@museumoflondon.org.uk 020 7814 5511.
3. Museum of London Archaeology has been providing professional archaeological services to the property industry and academic community for the past 30 years. It is an independent division of the Museum of London, one of world’s largest museums of urban history. Meeting the requirements of the planning process efficiently and cost-effectively, Museum of London Archaeology designs innovative projects that lead to a greater understanding of our past. At any one time Museum of London may have around a dozen excavations going on across London.
4. Museum of London, Museum of London Docklands and Museum of London Archaeology seek to inspire a passion for London. The Museums are open daily 10am – 6pm and are FREE to all. 
5. The UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI) is an unprecedented partnership between four of the world's leading biomedical research organisations: the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, the Wellcome Trust and UCL (University College London). It will carry out research of the highest quality using the latest technology to advance understanding of human health and disease. The institute will be constructed on 3.6 acres of land at Brill Place, to the north of the British Library in the St Pancras and Somers Town area of north London.