Archaeology

A number of significant archaeological discoveries have been made in Hackney such as the Saxon Clapton logboat, the medieval convent of Holywell Priory, and the site of one of the earliest theatres in London (now marked by a brown plaque in Curtain Road). The Palaeolithic Stoke Newington axe finds were the inspiration for researches in the 1870s by Worthington Smith, one of the pioneers in uncovering early human remains in Britain.

There are now 17 Areas of Archaeological Priority in Hackney, in which prior assessment and planning for the archaeological implications of development will normally be required. This may lead to in-situ preservation of suitable finds, or, for finds not requiring in-situ preservation, an appropriate level of archaeological investigation and presentation to the public of any finds (UDP policy EQ29).

Developers are urged to contact the English Heritage (Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service) who maintain the Sites and Monuments Record and advise on the archaeological potential of sites both within and outside areas of archaeological priority.

The Friends of Hackney Archives publish an informative and well illustrated book entitled Under Hackney: The Archaeological Story, by Keith Sugden with Kieron Tyler (ISBN 0951749315).

Page updated: 20 Oct 2010