134 OLD STREET, Islington, EC1V 9BL an Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

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134 OLD STREET, Islington, EC1V 9BL An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

June 2016

134 OLD STREET, Islington, EC1V 9BL An Archaeological Desk-Based Assessment

NGR: TQ324823

COMPASS ARCHAEOLOGY LIMITED 250 York Road Battersea London SE11 3SJ

Telephone: 020 7801 9444

e-mail: [email protected]

June 2016

Author: Florence Smith Nicholls

©Compass Archaeology Ltd.

Abstract

In September 2015 Compass Archaeology were commissioned to conduct an archaeological desk-based assessment, (DBA), on the site of 134 Old Street, in the Borough of Islington, London, EC1V 9BL. The DBA is produced in support of a planning application to demolish the existing structure and erect a new ground floor plus five-storey building and the creation of a basement. Through the course of this desk-based assessment it has become clear that the site lies on a road that has existed at least since the Roman period. As can be seen from Ralph Agas Civitas Londinium (fig.8), in the 1570s, Old Street still lay outside the city walls, and it wasn’t until 1658 (fig.9) that the site appears to have been built upon. By the mid-18th century (fig.14) there was more concentrated urban development in the study area. Richard Horwood’s Plan of London and Westminster 1799 (fig.15) provides the first clear cartographical representation of ‘Tilney Court’ and the associated building on the site of 134 Old Street. The format of street frontage building and rear court appears to have remained largely unchanged to the present day.

The site is considered to hold low potential for archaeological remains from the Prehistoric to Saxon periods apart from chance isolated finds. It is possible that these levels have been truncated by later medieval or post-medieval developments.

There is a medium chance of finding medieval stake holes and trampled surfaces, representing agricultural activity, as these have been discovered during excavations at 122-128 Old Street just 187ft away. More specifically, a watching brief report from the site advises:

“The potential for survival for ancient ground surfaces (horizontal archaeological stratigraphy) is low. There is a greater potential for survival of cut features.”1

As 17th-18th features were also discovered at 122-128 Old Street, as well as numerous other post-medieval examples in the study area, it is surmised that the chance of finding archaeological remains from this period are medium to high.

Due to the site’s location within the Moorfields Archaeological Priority Zone, the potential for locally significant 13th-18th century remains, and the perceived total loss of any potential archaeological remains through the excavation of a new basement some form of archaeological mitigation may be deemed necessary. Historic England have advised, (pre- planning), that this could involve monitoring of any geological test pits to establish the potential of archaeological remains to survive. Following this, areas of archaeological interest could be defined and full archaeological excavation of said areas could be undertaken, especially those identified within the footprint of the proposed basement. Any perceived need for further archaeological mitigation could be appended as a suitably worded condition onto any successful planning application rather than as a pre-planning condition.

1 Museum of London Archaeology (2007) 122-128 Old Street An Archaeological Watching Brief, p.10

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Contents Page 1 Introduction 1 2 Acknowledgements 1 3 Objectives 2 4 Methodology 2

5 Archaeology, the historic environment and planning 2

6 Site location, geology and topography 5 7 Archaeological and historical background 7

8 Cartographic and documentary evidence for post-medieval development 21 9 The present site 39 10 The proposed development 46 11 Archaeological potential for the study site 51 12 Conclusions 52 13 Sources 53 Appendix I Pre-planning advice from Historic England 55

List of figures Front cover-Extract from Horwood’s Plan of the Cities of London and Westminster 1799 Page Fig.1 Site location plan 1

Fig.2 Map showing the site in relation to the Moorfields Archaeological Priority Area and the St Luke’s Conservation Area 4

Fig.3 Plan of site boundary 5

Fig.4 The site in relation to underlying geology as indicated by the BGS 2006 6

Fig.5 The site in relation to prehistoric, Roman, and medieval entries from 7 the GLHER

Fig.6 The site in relation to post-medieval cemeteries mentioned in the 12 GLHER

Fig.7 The site in relation to post-medieval entries from in the GLHER 13

Fig.8 Extract from Ralph Aga’s ‘Civitas Londinum’ c1570 21

Fig.9 Extract from Faithorne and Newcourt’s ‘Map of London’ 1658 22

Fig.10 Extract from John Senex’s ‘Plan of London’ 1720 23

Fig.11 Extract from Blome’s ‘Map of St. Gile’s Cripplegate Without’ 1720 24

Fig.12 Extract from John Stow’s ‘Map of Shoreditch, Norton Folgate and Crepplegate Without’ 1755 25

Fig.13 Extract from Benjamin Cole’s ‘A New and Accurate Survey of the Parish of St Andrews Holbourne’ 1756 26

Fig.14 Extract from John Rocque’s ‘Plan of the Cities of London, Westminster and Southwark’ 1769 27

Fig.15 Extract from Richard Horwood’s ‘Plan of London and Westminster’ 1799 28

Fig.16 Extract from Harry Margary’s ‘Balloon View of London’ 1851 29

Fig.17 Extract from Ordnance Survey Map of London First Edition Sheet XXVII 1872-77 30

Fig.18 Extract from Goad Insurance Plan London Sheet 140 1887 31

Fig.19 Extract from Ordnance Survey Map London Sheet VII.45 1896 32

Fig.20 Extract from Ordnance Survey County Series 3rd Edition Map of London Sheet V6 1912-14 33

Fig.21 Extract from Ordnance Survey Plan, surveyed 1938 34

Fig.22 Extract from Aerial view of Old Street 1945 35

Fig.23 Extract from Ordnance Survey Plan, surveyed 1953 36

Fig.24 Photograph of Old Street looking towards Bunhill Row, 1969 37

Fig.25 Extract from Ordnance Survey Plan, surveyed 1975 38

Fig.26 Plan showing the direction of view of figs.27-36 39

Fig.27 View of the frontage of the site and pedestrian access into Tilney Court, 40 facing S

Fig.28 Oblique view of site and its proximity to Old Street roundabout 40 facing NE

Fig.29 Oblique view of site and the spire of St Luke’s church, facing NWW 41

Fig.30 Oblique view of pedestrian access into Tilney Court from Old Street 42 facing SSW

Fig.31 View into Tilney Court, facing SSE 42

Fig.32 View towards Old Street in Tilney Court, facing NNW 43

Fig.33 View of the first floor of the site covering the pedestrian access 44 facing NNW

Fig.34 West side of site facing Tilney Court, facing NEE 44

Fig.35 Oblique view of access to Old Street out of Tilney Court, facing NNE 45

Fig.36 View of residential buildings opposite the site, facing NNW 45

Fig.37 Proposed ground floor plan 46

Fig.38 Proposed basement plan 47

Fig.39 Roof plan 48

Fig.40 Proposed north-facing elevation onto Old Street 49

vi Fig.41 East-facing section through the proposed development 50

Figs.1, 4, 5-7, and 25 reproduced from OS data with the permission of the Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of HMSO ©Crown Copyright 2014. All rights reserved. Compass Archaeology Ltd, licence no. AL 100031317

Fig. 5, 26 and.37-41 reproduced from original drawings provided by Base Associates

Fig.2 Adapted from Islington Borough Council’s Map of the St Luke’s Conservation Area

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1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This document forms a summary of the findings of an archaeological desk-based assessment, (DBA), conducted on the site of 134 Old Street, in the Borough of Islington, London, EC1V 9BL.

Fig.1: Location of the site on the Ordnance Survey Map 1:1250 2015

1.2 The DBA has been commissioned pre-planning in support of a planning application to demolish the existing structure and erect a new ground floor plus 5-storey building with additional basement space. This will entail considerable disturbance to underlying ground, especially as the existing structure does not have any form of basement.

2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Compass Archaeology would like to thank YPP Investments for supporting the archaeological research and assessment, and for commissioning Compass to conduct the DBA. Thanks also to Mr James Singer of Nexus Planning Limited for providing relevant planning documents and design drawings.

Thanks also to all those who helped source historic material during the research stage of the project, including the staff of Islington Historical Centre.

3 OBJECTIVES

The objective of the assessment is to establish the archaeological potential of the study- area within the context of the proposed development. This takes into account three principal elements:

 Reference to the known archaeological and documentary background  Consideration of the impact of previous land use and development on potential archaeology  Potential impact of the proposed development

4 METHODOLOGY

4.1 The assessment has been carried out in accordance with Historic England guidelines, (Historic England, 2015), and the recommendations of the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, (CIfA 2014).

4.2 A visit was made to the site, and local studies libraries and relevant archives were consulted. In addition, entries held by the Greater London Historic Environment Record (GLHER) were examined. Material held by Compass Archaeology was also utilised. References to the various sources were noted, and relevant material photocopied/scanned or photographed as appropriate.

A search of the GLHER was made within a 300m ‘radius’ of the study-area focused on TQ324823. The results of the search are considered in more detail in Section 7.

4.3 The results of these investigations have thus been collated to produce this document, which forms a summary of the known archaeological potential for the site, the possible impact of any prior land-use upon that potential, and the perceived impact that the current proposal may have on any surviving potential.

5 ARCHAEOLOGY, THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT AND PLANNING

5.1 This desktop assessment represents one element in the archaeological planning process, whereby early consideration of potential archaeological remains can be achieved, and if necessary appropriate further mitigation measures put in place. The report conforms to the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework, (NPPF), adopted in March 2012, which replaces PPS 5 ‘Planning for the Historic Environment’ and policies HE6 and HE7.

5.2 The Government adopted the National Planning Policy Framework in March 2012. The NPPF integrates planning strategy on ‘heritage assets’ - bringing together all aspects of the historic environment, below and above ground, including historic buildings and structures, landscapes, archaeological sites, and wrecks. The significance of heritage assets needs to be considered in the planning process, whether designated or not, and the settings of assets taken into account. NPPF requires using an integrated approach to establishing the overall significance of the heritage asset using evidential, historical, aesthetic and communal values, to ensure that planning decisions are based on the nature, extent and level of significance.

5.3 The site lies within the Borough of Islington which has its own policies regarding archaeological remains and development in the form of ‘Islington’s Local Plan: Development Management Policies (June 2013).’ It also has recommendations for archaeological assessments ahead of any basement developments, (particularly relevant in this instance), within its ‘Basement Development Draft Supplementary Planning Document, July 2015’:

‘The need for physical site investigations such as trial pits will be depend on site conditions identified through the desk study and site surveys…If physical investigations are not considered to be required to inform the design, the rationale should be clearly set out in the SMS.

Should physical site investigations be undertaken, these must be clearly set out and their findings explained.’2

5.4 The site lies within the Moorfields Archaeological Priority Area (see fig. 2). The ‘English Heritage Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service Archaeology Priority Area Guidelines (Revised Draft), 2014’ defines the purpose of these areas:

‘to help highlight at an early stage where a development proposal may affect a heritage asset of archaeological interest and so trigger early consultation with the borough’s archaeological adviser on the need for site specific assessment and field evaluation.’3

The site is not within a conservation area but is in close proximity to the St Luke’s Conservation Area to the west (see fig. 2). The character of St Luke’s conservation area, the façade of 130 Old Street and Old Street itself need to be considered in terms of the design and appearance of the development.4

5.5 The site is not a listed building, however it is close to St Luke’s Church and churchyard which is Grade II listed, and a component of the local setting which needs to be considered as part of the development.5

5.6 The site is not a Scheduled Ancient Monument and will not affect any.

2 Islington Council, Basement Development Draft Supplementary Planning Document, p. 41 3 Booth.P and Sandy.K, English Heritage Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service Archaeology Priority Area Guidelines (Revised Draft), p.9-10 4 Broomhall,T. (2015) Pre-Application Response, p.3 5 Broomhall,T. (2015) Pre-Application Response, p.3

Fig.2: Extract from Islington Council’s Map of the St Luke Conservation Area CA16, 1:3500, altered to show the site in relation to the Moorfields Archaeological Priority Area (highlighted in blue, and where overlapping with the St Luke’s Conservation Area defined by a blue line, not on original plan), and the St Luke’s Conservation Area (highlighted in grey)

6 SITE LOCATION, GEOLOGY AND TOPOGRAPHY

6.1 The site is located west of Old Street roundabout, with its façade facing north onto Old Street itself. There is a gated pedestrian access to the residential development 1-5 Tilney Court adjoining the rear of the site. 8-9 Tilney Court to the southwest of the site has been granted consent for a five storey side extension of residential units to commence in 2015. The site also adjoins the six story office building 130 Old Street to the east and the five storey terraced building 136 Old Street to the west.

The site is sub-rectangular in shape and aligned NNW-SSE, measuring approximately 14.0m long at its longest extent (NNW-SSE), by 9.0m wide at its widest extent (SSW- NNE), giving an area of c. 86 sq. metres

The site is currently occupied by a two-storey terraced former architect’s office. Whilst the ground floor is adjacent to gated pedestrian access to Tilney Court, the first floor has a larger footprint in that it also partly covers the pedestrian access, being located above it.

Fig.3: Plan of site boundary, altered to show the existing first-storey area which covers the pedestrian access route in purple

6.2 The British Geological Survey (2006), Sheet 256: North London, indicates that the site lies over an area of Hackney gravels which dominates the Shoreditch area, extending to Hackney in the north east and the City of London in the south west. Taplow gravels, with large isolated deposits of Langley silts, dominate to the south and north east, extending as far as Hackney and Bow.

Fig.4: The site in relation to underlying geology as indicated by the BGS 2006

7 ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

7.1 The following section is drawn from a survey of the Greater London Historic Environment Record, (GLHER), and should be read in conjunction with Figs.5-7 below.

A search of the GLHER for a radius of 300m was undertaken, based on an approximate centre point for the site (NGR: TQ324823). This produced a total of 64 relevant Monument records, after removing standing buildings and grouping some of these by location or category this has been reduced to 44. The entries cover a range of material – including archaeological excavations, documentary and antiquarian records, and isolated findspots. These are discussed in chronological order by period below.

Fig.5: The site, (ringed red), in relation to prehistoric, Roman, and medieval entries from the GLHER

7.2 Prehistoric

No. on Mon.UID TQ Ref. Description References Fig.5 1 MLO1536 3250 8250 Palaeolithic hand axe found on Article in monograph: Bath Street now in the Museum of Roe, D. Gazetteer of London British Lower & Middle Palaeo. sites, CBA Res Rep No.8, p193 2 MLO418 3250 8240 Iron Age socketed spear head Unpublished document: found on Golden Lane Merriman, N. Prehistoric finds in central London 3 ELO14230 3264 8217 Excavations of a new 6.0m deep Article in serial: Philp, B. underground car park in the Excavations in the City of grounds of the Honourable London, in Kent Artillery Company on City Road Archaeological Review established the presence of an Vols.124 and 150 unknown late Bronze Age / early Iron Age site sealed below 17th century dumping.

As can be seen from the table above, little has survived from the Prehistoric period in the 300m radius of the site location. Two of the relevant entries in the HLER database (nos. 1 and 2) pertain to individual artefacts with little information about their provenance. In such a case these represent chance finds rather than more extensive evidence of prehistoric activity in the area. This said, excavations in the grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company (no. 3) revealed a “collection of struck flints, fire cracked stones and a number of sherds dating to the Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age (1100-400 BC).”6 Though these finds do not represent substantial evidence for prehistoric settlements or structures, they do at least indicate that an in situ prehistoric assemblage has been recovered from the local area.

As the Walbrook River cut through the Moorfields area in the prehistoric period, it may be that this was an attractive area with potential for subsistence practises.

7.3 Roman

No. on Mon.UID TQ Ref. Description References Fig.5 4 3260 8245 Two find spots on Old Street: Unpublished document: Inner London MLO330 Roman vase accessioned in 1912 Archaeological Unit. INDEX, IS ROM 17

Unpublished document: Inner London MLO331 Coin of the Emperor Nero (54- Archaeological Unit. 68AD found in 1941 INDEX, IS ROM 15

6 Wessex Archaeology (2006) Honourable Artillery Company, City Road, London Borough of Islington: watching brief. London: Wessex Archaeology, Report No. 61090.04,p.6

5 3260 8240 Two find spots on Whitecross Unpublished document: Street: Inner London Archaeological Unit. MLO324 Bone gaming piece that was INDEX, IS ROM 14 possibly found in association with a 3rd century coin, (see below).

MLO325 Brass coin of Victorinus, a usurper of the Gallic Empire period, (260- 273AD).

Roman artefacts have been found on both Old Street and Whitecross Street (no. 4 and 5), though these are isolated find spots that most likely represent the chance recovery of objects potentially displaced by later building or dumping activity. Indeed, during work on the Honourable Artillery Ground mentioned above, a small piece of Roman tegula was also recovered from a 17th century rubbish dump.7 As is mentioned below, Old Street is possibly part of the Roman road ‘Ickneid Street,’8 although the fact that it bypasses the Roman city itself could negate this. Certainly, Old Street lay outside the city wall of Roman Londinium, a structure which may have altered the natural drainage pattern of the landscape and been the cause for the creation of marshy ground north of the Roman wall, also known as ‘Moorfields Marsh.’9

7.4 Saxon

Despite the name ‘Old Street’ likely originating from the Old English word ‘ealde,’ no Anglo- Saxon remains have been found in close vicinity to the site location.

7.5 Medieval

No. on Mon.UID TQ Ref. Description References Fig.5 6 MLO38504 3220 8220 A chapel built after the N/A Charterhouse plague cemetery was established. Used as a hermitage and then became the nucleus for the later Charterhouse.

MLO44587 Location of the Charterhouse orchard north and east of the Great Cloister.

MLO56764 Excavations of a number of small cuttings in 1944 identified the lines of the church walls and chapels. Many of the present day walls were shown to follow the original lines of the church

7 Wessex Archaeology (2006) Honourable Artillery Company, City Road, London Borough of Islington: watching brief. London: Wessex Archaeology , Report No. 61090.04, p.7 8 Willats, E.A. (1987) Streets With A Story The Book of Islington ,p.170 9 Wessex Archaeology (2006) Honourable Artillery Company, City Road, London Borough of Islington: watching brief. London: Wessex Archaeology , Report No. 61090.04, p.6

foundations, but the structure of the church has now disappeared completely above ground. 7 MLO74062 3215 8242 Excavations at 15-29 Seward Unpublished document: and Street in 1999 revealed 2.7m of Museum of London ELO4492 mounded dump deposits Archaeology Service, containing well preserved organic (1999), 15-29 Seward remains including 15th and 16th Street, Islington, London century pottery, copper, iron and EC1: An Archaeological leather objects. The deposits were Evaluation Report interpreted as a possible deliberate dumping outside of the city limits to create a mound for a windmill. *Natural sands recorded at 17.30mOD 8 MLO98393 3242 8237 Excavations at 122-128 Old Street Unpublished document: identified possible 13th to 15th Museum of London century stock enclosures Archaeology Service, comprised of stake holes / post (2007), 122-128 Old holes and concentrated areas of Street, EC1: An trampled ground. Archaeological Evaluation *Natural brickearth exposed at between 15.50mOD and 16.14mOD across the site. 9 MLO1514 3225 8215 A tenement is first mentioned on Unpublished document: this site in 1415 owned by Henry Inner London Rokulf, alias Henry Lynch, who Archaeological Unit. also owned the ‘Swan on the INDEX, IS MED 15 Hoop’ in Holborn 10 MLO1450 3240 8210 Trial trenching in 1976 found the Excavation archive: ILAU, line of an unnamed medieval road. Black, G. Whitbreads Brewery, Whitecross Street. Site code: WTC76 11 MLO99141 3238 8204 Archaeological excavation at the Unpublished document: Prior Western Primary School in Museum of London 2005-2006 revealed a large quarry Archaeology Service, pit from 1400-1600 containing (2007), South Islington pottery, slag, charcoal, scorched schools, Golden Lane CBM and brick suggesting some Campus, Whitecross nearby industry. Terraced Street, London, EC1: buildings occupied the site from Archaeological Post- 1480-1700 with gardens and open Excavation Assessment space to the south dated from and Updated Project 1270-1650. Of particular interest Design was a selection of over 30 late 17th century glass bottles and phials. *Natural brickearth deposits exposed at 15.96mOD over sands and gravels at 15.65mOD. 12 ELO4957 3244 8222 An evaluation in 1976 at Monograph: Museum of Whitbread’s Brewery on London, (1998), Whitecross Street revealed that the Archaeology in Greater area lay within the Moorfields London 1965-90: A guide Marsh, which was subjected to to records of excavations reclaimation dumping from the by the Museum of London 15th century onwards. The line of Whitecross Street was also shown to have shifted eastwards since the 18th century.

13 MLO17507 3230 8240 The possible site of medieval St Unpublished document: Luke’s Manor House. Now the Sturdy, D. Reference in site of St Luke’s Church ILAU borough survey, (blue file) 14 MLO64268 3233 8203 Test pitting at Prior Western Unpublished document: and Nursery School in 1992 revealed Museum of London ELO4350 pits containing pottery animal Archaeology Service, bone and medieval roof tile (1993), Prior Weston cutting the natural 15m east of the Nursery School, Golden street frontage. Lane, EC1: An Close to the street frontage were Archaeological Evaluation the remains of an infilled Victorian basement truncating natural sands. *Natural recorded at 15.30mOD 15 MLO104385 3270 8205 Finsbury fields was a large area of N/A open ground, which has been used since medieval times for the practise of archery

Documentary as well as archaeological evidence relates to the existence of substantial medieval sites in the vicinity of the site location, such as the ‘Charterhouse’ (no.6) a tenement owned by Henry Lynch (no. 9), the possible site of St Luke’s Manor House (no. 13) and Finsbury Fields (no. 15). The Charterhouse, a Carthusian monastery founded in 1371 and then dissolved in 1537, survived to the extent that the lines of the original church walls could at least be discerned. In addition the line of an unnamed medieval road (no. 10) was revealed south of the site on Whitecross Street, as well as the remains of terraced buildings occupying the Prior Western Primary School site (no. 11), which suggests that some significant elements of the medieval city do have the potential to survive in the archaeological record.

Much of the medieval remains represent reclamation dumping (nos. 7 and 12), especially in the area of the Moorfields Marsh which was subjected to this activity from the 15th century onwards. Quarrying activity has also been identified to the south of the site on Whitecross Street (no.11).

The discovery of 13th to 15th century stock enclosures and concentrated areas of trampled ground at 122-128 Old Street (no. 8) suggests that even agricultural features dating to the medieval period could be found at 134 Old Street.

Fig.6: The site, (ringed red), in relation to post-medieval cemeteries mentioned in the GLHER

Fig.7: The site, (ringed red), in relation to post-medieval entries from in the GLHER

7.6 Post-medieval

No. on Mon.UID TQ Description References Fig.6* Ref. and 7 16* MLO25715 3230 Site of Thomas’s burying ground Article in monograph: LTS, 8215 shown on Horwood’s map of London The A-Z of Regency London, 1813-1819 Map 5, AD 17* MLO99140 3234 Excavations on the site of Bunhill Unpublished document: 8205 Burial Ground or Golden Lane Burial Museum of London Ground a non-conformist burial Archaeology Service, (2007), ground in 2005 and 2006. South Islington schools, Golden Revealed 248 individual burials from Lane Campus, Whitecross 13.4m OD to 16.30m OD buried Street, London, EC1: east-west. Archaeological Post- The burials overlay extensive quarry Excavation Assessment and pits dating 1650-1700. Updated Project Design *Natural brickearth observed at 15.96mOD and sand and gravels at 15.65mOD.

18* MLO25717 3229 The public gardens to the north of St Article in monograph: LTS, 8250 Luke’s Church were originally the The A-Z of Regency London, burial grounds of the church Map 5, AC 19* MLO25714 3260 Site of St Luke’s Hospital for Unpublished document: 8250 Lunatics established in 1786 to house Museum of London the mentally ill Archaeology Service, Site visit to St Luke’s Estate, Old Street. MLO55699 Site of St Luke’s Hospital burial Ref: H:\STLUKES.DOC ground to the north of the site

MLO67578 Human remains were exposed in a service trench in 1996 and identified as disarticulated remains from at least 10 individuals associated with the burial ground of St Luke’s Hospital. 20* MLO70879 3233 Cripplegate poor-ground established Monograph: Holmes, A, 8213 in 1636 was situated on Whitecross (1896), The London Burial Street. In 1896 it was referred to as Grounds: Notes on their history the upper churchyard of St Giles, from the earliest times to the (Cripplegate), and overcrowded due present day…Illustrated. to its low fees. Historical Collection from the The site is now occupied by the British Library, p291, No.91 Peabody Estate with no indication of its former function 21* MLO104473 3256 The site of St Luke’s Poor Ground Monograph: Holmes, A, 8254 founded as a pest-house burial (1896), The London Burial ground in 1662. It was used as a Grounds: Notes on their history recreation ground for residents of St from the earliest times to the Luke’s Hospital for Lunatics in the present day…Illustrated. 18th century, and is now a small open Historical Collection from the space. Later came under the British Library, p290-1, No.86 jurisdiction of the newly formed St Luke’s Parish in 1832. In 1805 body Website: Orme, Daniel. 2012. snatchers were apprehended with 3 The London Burial Grounds, bodies in sacks. http://www.londonburials.co.uk /,St Luke's (South)

22* MLO69134 3240 Roscoe Street is the site of a Quaker Article in monograph: Meller, 8230 Burial Ground established in 1660s H. London Cemeteries, 2nd and disused by 1855. Part of it is now Edition, p90 a recreation ground laid out in 1965, MLO25718 and partly overrun by widening of the road. Some 5000 bodies were reinterred in Bunhill cemetery 23* MLO104437 3252 Quaker Gardens is all that remains of Website: London Parks and 8226 the former burial ground of the Gardens Trust, 2007, London Society of Friends, (Quakers), on a Parks and Gardens Trust Site site once part of Bunhill Fields and Database. purchased in 1661. It was closed in http://www.londongardensonlin 1855 and eventually re-laid as a e.org.uk recreation ground in 1965 within the GLC’s Banner Street Estate.

24* MLO5947 3269 Bunhill Fields Burial Grounds was Monograph: Holmes, A, 8225 the largest and longest established of (1896), The London Burial London’s 17th century ‘suburban Grounds: Notes on their history graveyards’ leased by the from the earliest times to the Corporation of London from 1315- present day…Illustrated. 1867 who managed it as a public Historical Collection from the garden from 1868. British Library, p291, No.89

Earliest burials are believed to be Website: London Parks and Saxon and took place in the Finsbury Gardens Trust, 2007, London Fen. In 1549 cartloads of bones were Parks and Gardens Trust Site brought in from the Charnel House in Database. St Paul’s Churchyard. It was used as http://www.londongardensonlin a private burial ground from 1665 e.org.uk after being enclosed by a brick wall. The area was important for Non- Website: Historic England. Conformists by the mid-17th century. 2015. The National Heritage It was finally closed in 1867, by List for England, which time 123,000 burials had taken http://www.historicengland.org. place. uk/listing/the-list,1001713

Grade I Listed Park or Garden

25 MLO1462 3235 The site of the Fortune Theatre 1600- Article in monograph: Morgan, 8215 21 and 1623-49. The first a square W, (1682), Survey of London timber structure which burnt down in 1621, the second was a round brick Unpublished document: structure. Partially demolished in Blatherwick, S. London’s Pre- 1649 and completely pulled down by Restoration purpose-built 1662. The Fortune was built for Theatres Philip Henslowe and Edward Alleyn, famous actors, with prior links to The Rose and The Globe. 26 MLO24823 3221 An evaluation at 125 Golden Lane Excavation archive: DGLA 8228 revealed a block of dressed Atkinson, M. 125 Golden lane sandstone, provisionally Tudor site records. pottery and post-medieval yellow glazed tile, suggesting an occupation Site code: GOL90 site of unknown nature. 27 MLO66615 3239 Trial excavations by the ILAU on Unpublished document: DGLA, 8265 Whitecross Street in 1976 observed DGLA Site archive project. File 15th century dumping. ref: NL8A 28 3215 Evaluation works undertaken at 15- Unpublished document: 8242 29 Seward Street in 1999 revealed: Museum of London Archaeology Service, (1999), MLO74063 18th century levelling layers and 15-29 Seward Street, Islington, garden soils London EC1: An Archaeological Evaluation MLO74064 18th century pitting Report

MLO74065 19th century brick and granite set yard surface

29 MLO75749 3225 Six test pits excavated at 5 Unpublished document: (ELO248) 8227 Garrett Street produced Tudor Museum of London material including animal bone, Archaeology Service, (1997), polychrome delftware tile and clay 5 Garrett Street, Islington EC1: pipe fragments c1550-1700. An Archaeological Testpit and Survey

MLO76037 Interpreted as garden soil sealing (ELO543) possibly reworked brickearth. *Natural observed at 16.83m to 16.18m OD. Highest surviving archaeology was at 18.52mOD 30 3226 Test pitting at 76-78 Old Street in Excavation archive: DGLA, 8227 1989 revealed: Archive site code OLD89

MLO63137 Medieval stratigraphy overlying the brickearth and sealed by

MLO63138 Post-medieval dumping 31 MLO73125 3258 An evaluation by MOLAS on Unpublished document: 8208 Bunhill Row revealed post-medieval Museum of London quarrying; Archaeology Service, (1998), Land at City and Islington College, Bunhill Row, London MLO73126 17th – 19th century garden activity EC1: An Archaeological including dumping of materials; Evaluation

MLO73127 Post-medieval brick walls, probably associated with the garden activity.

MLO73129 Two post-medieval wells probably related to the same garden activity 32 MLO97900 3271 A single evaluation trench in the Unpublished document: (ELO6029) 8219 grounds of the Honourable Artillery Wessex Archaeology, (2004), Company on City Road in 2004 Honourable Artillery Company, observed 16th century dumping and City Road, Islington: An the construction cut for a Archaeological Evaluation subsequently infilled later post- medieval cellar. * Natural observed at 15.10mOD

MLO99144 A watching brief followed in 2005- Unpublished document: 2006 revealed medieval quarrying Wessex Archaeology, (2006), and 16th and 17th century rubbish pits Honourable Artillery Company, and dumping. No human remains City Road, Islington: Report on were found suggesting Bunhill Burial Archaeological Watching Brief Ground did not reach this far south. *Natural gravels found at 15.60m to 15.40mOD

33 MLO63127 3238 Watching brief at Chiswell Street / Unpublished document: 8200 Whitecross Street observed medieval Department of Greater London quarrying Archaeology, (1986), Site Watching Chiswell and Street/Whitecross Street CET86

MLO63129 sherds of 16th to 18th century pottery. Much of the area had been truncated by later basements. *Natural gravels observed at c.13.00mOD 34 ELO9742 3265 A watching brief undertaken in 1999- Unpublished document: 8218 2000 on the Vicarage Site of the Museum of London Honourable Artillery Company Archaeology Service, (2000), observed: The Honourable Artillery Company, Vicarage Site, MLO75155 Medieval gravel quarrying c.1450- Bunhill Row, EC1: An 1550. Archaeological Post- Excavation Assessment

MLO75156 Intensive pitting dating 1550-1650 prior to the occupation of the site by the Honourable Artillery Company in 1651.

MLO75157 A boundary wall representing enclosure of the site by the Honourable Artillery Company in the 1640s.

MLO75158 A brick cellar wall, probably reflecting a building shown on Rocque’s map of 1746.

Finds included a fine assemblage of 17th and 18th century pottery with some unique pieces. These included a notable culinary mould in the form of a two-tailed mermaid and a Dutch delftware wall tile maybe the latest import used in London. Also included evidence of industry including sugar refining, manufacturing of clay tobacco pipes and copper alloy working.

35 MLO1444 3250 Site of the post-medieval Girdlers Article in monograph: Yeandle, 8255 Almshouses Corner of Finsbury

MLO11971 Founded by Edward Alleyn in 1620, rebuilt in 1707 and again in 1874. In 1964 this later block was demolished 36 MLO60670 3242 An evaluation at 122-128 Old Street Unpublished document: ( ELO7475 / 8237 revealed 17th century pits overlain by Museum of London ELO7105) 17th to 18th century dumping and a Archaeology Service, (2007), 17th to 18th century cellar wall. 122-128 Old Street, EC1: An Archaeological Evaluation

37 MLO107252 3262 The site of The St Giles Workhouse Website: Higginbotham, P. 8240 on Old Street in 1724, renamed St (2000), The Workhouse: The Luke’s Workhouse by 1740s. The Story of an Institution, workhouse was relocated in 1782 to http://www.workhouses.org.uk City Road. The original site was given over to a Parochial school and Article in a monograph: Anon. then a timber yard. (1732), An Account of Several Work-houses for Employing and Maintaining the Poor 38 ELO12973 3231 Evaluation works at 15 Garrett Street Digital report: Archaeological 8231 exposed Solutions Ltd. (2013), 15 Garrett Street, Islington, MLO106752 Post-medieval features including a London, EC1Y OTU: An kiln or mash tub; circular, domed, Archaeological Evaluation brick soakaway; a brick wall; and a brick drain. Linked to its former use as Samuel Whitbread’s brewery 39 MLO72020 3265 Borehole monitoring on Bunhill Row Unpublished document: 8218 by MOLAS in 1998 revealed a series Museum of London of 17th century dumps and later Archaeology Service, (1998), deposits. Honourable Artillery Company, Health Club, Bunhill Row EC1: Archaeological Monitoring of Ground Investigations

40 ELO14454 3227 Observations of workmen’s finds at Excavation archive: Guildhall 8231 80-84 Old Street in 1958 included Museum, (1958), 80-84 Old stoneware jugs c1600, coins, 19th Street, EC1. century pottery, bronze tubes, rings, clay tobacco pipes, and textiles Site code: GM408 including possible coconut matting were in a brick lined cesspit, sealed below a thick layer of lime. 41 ELO12508 3253 Watching brief conducted over a Digital report: Compass 8234 large area bounded by City Road to Archaeology, (2012), Thames the north and west, Golden lane to Water Victorian Mains the west and Chiswell Street to the Replacement Works in the south, during Victorian Mains Vicinity of Old Street, Islington, Replacement works. Archaeology (DMA Crouch Hill 62): An observed included; 18th and 19th Archaeological Watching Brief century brick walls and evidence of clay tobacco pipe manufacturing on Mora Street. The remains of a cesspit and brick floor were observed in Banner Street.

42 ELO11479 3227 A watching brief at 1-11 Ironmonger Digital report: Pre-Construct 8258 Row in 2009 revealed a number of Archaeology, (2009), An post-medieval layers including Archaeological Watching Brief residual earlier CBM. No at The Ironmonger Baths, 1-11 archaeology survived below floor Ironmonger Row, EC1V 3QF levels of 17.0mOD

ELO12976 Archaeological investigations Digital report: Pre-Construct followed in 2010 and 2011. Residual Archaeology, (2012), prehistoric and Roman material was Ironmonger Row Baths, 1-11 collected. Earliest in situ was 11th Iron monger Row, Islington, century pits and linears probably Assessment of an agricultural in nature. The backfill of Archaeological Investigation nearby 17th and 18th century backfill from a nearby high status ecclesiastical building. Remains of post-medieval hearths may represent smithing, and glass beads and bone- working waste suggest local specialist industries. 43 ELO12974 3261 An archaeological evaluation Digital report: Archaeology 8230 conducted on the site of the former South East, (2012), Moorfields School in 2012 observed Archaeological Evaluation backfilled 15th and 16th century Report: Former Moorfields quarry pits, sealed by 17th century School site, Bunhill Row, reclamation deposits and pitting. A London, EC1 series of 19th century brick foundations and backfilled cellars reflected the urban development of the area. 44 ELO14452 3236 A watching brief by MOLAS on 11 Unpublished document: 8203 trial pits along Whitecross Street Museum of London revealed natural brickearth truncated Archaeology Service, (2007), by post-medieval quarries. Backfills South Islington schools, Golden contained 18th and 19th century Lane Campus, Whitecross pottery. Deeper cleaner fills at the Street, London, EC1: base were dated to the 13th and 14th Archaeological Post- centuries. An 18th century cellar, Excavation Assessment and backfilled with collapsed building Updated Project Design remains was also found. Disarticulated human remains were observed 2.7m below ground in one pit. Suggests clearance of the site but cemetery material used to backfill deeper features such as quarries. *Natural observed at 14.48m and 14.90mOD

Owing to the proximity of the Bunhill Burial Ground, St Luke’s Hospital and the Quaker Burial Ground in particular, there is a high concentration of post-medieval burials in a 300m radius of the site location. Bunhill Fields in particular was a long-standing 17th cemetery which was utilised as a dumping site for bones from the Charnel House in St Paul’s Churchyard in 1549. By the 17th century, the cemetery was characterised as the burial ground for ‘non-conformists.’ The presence of the Quaker Burial Ground south of the site location also reflects a general local theme of the internment of non-orthodox individuals.

In terms of non-funerary post- medieval sites, notable local buildings such as the Fortune Theatre (no.25), the Girdlers’ Almhouses (no.35) and St Luke’s Workhouse (no.37) are all attested by documentary sources.

There are a few instances of Tudor artefacts being recovered (nos. 26 and 29). As was the case in the medieval period, there are numerous cases of dumping, as well as pitting, activity (nos. 27, 30, 31, 32, 36 and 39). In addition, there is also evidence of quarrying (nos.33, 34, 43 and 44). More substantial structural remains survive, especially brick cellar walls which were evidently deep enough to not be truncated entirely by later developments (34, 36, 43 and 44). Evidence for clay tobacco pipe manufacturing and brick walls (no.41) and smithing, glass bead and bone-working waste (no.42) also indicates the presence of specialist industrial activity.

A watching brief at Whitecross Street (no.44) also revealed disarticulated human remains in a pit, suggesting cemetery material was used to backfill deeper features but this is the only such case of this occurring in the study area. The site nearest to the site location (no.36) was found to have 17th century pits overlain by 17th-18th century dumping and a cellar wall.

8 CARTOGRAPHIC AND DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE FOR POST-MEDIEVAL DEVELOPMENT

8.1 The post-medieval development of the study site can best be illustrated with reference to cartographic and documentary sources. The following section discusses several of these in chronological order.

8.2 Ralph Agas Civitas Londinium c1570

Fig.8: Extract from Agas’ ‘Civitas Londinium’, c1570

This mid-16th century map is one of the earliest depictions of the study area. “Olde Street” is thought to derive from the Old English ‘ealde,’ and to have been a part of the Roman road ‘Ickneid Street.’ However, the fact that the road does not correspond with the Roman settlement of London itself could indicate that its’ origins are earlier (Margery 1967).

At this time of Ralph Agas’ London, Old Street was outside of the city walls and lay within the Ward of Cripplegate. The ‘Creplegate’ structure itself, which can be seen on the map south of the site, originated from the Roman period c. 120AD and was one of six Roman gates into the city. The map shows that development was focused around the city wall south of Old Street in the 16th century, with open fields to the north.

The site of ‘Bunhill Fields’ which is marked on later maps, is here indicated by a cross-roads dividing up an expanse of open field to the east of the site location. First mentioned in written records dating to 1104, Bunhill Fields belonged to the Manor of Finsbury but by 1315 was leased to the City of London. Its name, potentially a corruption of ‘Bone Hill,’ proved apt when in 1549 human bones removed from the Charnel House at St. Paul’s churchyard were dumped here.10

Both Golden Lane and White Cross Street can be seen to the west of the site location, and still exist today.

8.3 William Faithorne and Richard Newcourt’s Map of London, 1658

Fig.9: Extract from William Faithorne and Richard Newcourt’s map

Faithorne and Newcourt’s map shows that by the mid-17th century the buildings on the north side of Old Street had become much more formalised, with what appears to be standardised orchard plots to the rear of the structures. Whilst one windmill was seen located on Bunhill Fields in the previous map, there is enough space to accommodate six windmills to the south- east of that area at this point according to the map.

This particular work does not have Old Street clearly marked on it, but rather ‘Golden Lane,’ which could be an error or an indication that this street merges with it. This map is also significant for providing a record of London just prior to The Great Fire in 1666, although the area surrounding the site location was unaffected due to its location outside of the city walls.

10 Much of the information here is derived from The Blake Society online information resource.

8.4 John Senex’s Plan of London 1720

Fig.10: Extract from John Senex’s ‘Plan of London’, 1720

This slightly schematic plan indicates standardised development along Old Street and open areas to the south of the site location.

Bunhill Fields is clearly marked to the south east, as well as a designated ‘Burying Place’. In 1665 the Corporation of the City of London decided to appropriate areas of the fen or ‘moor fields’ as a common burial ground for the inhabitants who had died of the Plague and could not be accommodated in the City’s churchyards. Although enclosing walls for the burial ground were completed, the ground was, it appears, never officially consecrated or used by the authorities for burials. Instead, a Mr. Tindal took over the lease, which is why it became known as ‘Tindal’s Burial Ground.’ Homeless Londoners also camped out in Bunhill Fields after the Great Fire while their homes were rebuilt.

8.5 Richard Blome’s Map of St. Gile’s Cripplegate Without, 1720

Fig.11: Extract from Richard Blome’s ‘Map of St. Gile’s Cripplegate Without’, 1720

Blome’s map of London provides a more detailed plan of Old Street in 1720. This is the first map extract in this document that clearly shows the location of the ‘Artillery Ground’ which was created in 1498 at the time that the musket replaced the longbow, and is still occupied by The Honourable Artillery Company.11

To the north-west of the site, a plot of land marked ‘New Church’ can be seen. This was the site for the newly commissioned St Luke’s Church, which formed part of the Commission for Fifty New Churches in 1711 with the aim to provide additional places of worship after the destruction of The Great Fire. As the church was only completed and consecrated in 1733, this most likely explains the rudimentary indication of a place of worship in its early stages of conceivement at the time the map was created.12

11 Much of the information here is derived from The Blake Society online information resource. 12 Boyle,A., Boston,C. and Witkin,A. (2005) The Archaeological Experience at St Luke’s Church, Old Street, Islington

8.6 John Stow’s Map of Shoreditch, Norton Folgate and Crepplegate Without, 1755 (first published in 1598 and then altered)

Fig.12: Extract from John Stow’s ‘Map of Shoreditch, Norton Folgate and Crepplegate Without’, 1755

John Stow’s map was first published in 1598 and then republished in 1720 and 1755 with updates by John Strype. The marking of ‘Rotten Row’ at the west end of Old Street, which is known to have existed circa 1560,13 was also on the previous map but can be more clearly seen in this example, along with the dog houses at the east end of Old Street as well as the Pest House to the north. The Pest House, built in 1573, was an isolation hospital, most notably used during the Great Plague of 1664-5, and existed until 1737.14

13 Islington Council, (2013), Islington’s Local Plan: Development Management Policies. p.170

14 Cosh, M. (1990) The Squares of Islington Part I: Finsbury and Clerkenwell.p.10

8.7 Benjamin Cole’s A New and Accurate Survey of the Parish of St Andrews Holbourne, 1756

Fig.13: Extract from Benjamin Cole’s ‘A New and Accurate Survey of the Parish of St Andrews’, 1756

Cole’s survey shows the increased development in the area surrounding the site by 1756, especially in terms of the clear detail of Featherstone Street to the east of the site location in this extract, showing that the extent of the open expanse of Bunhill Fields had been impinged upon but the ‘Difcenters Burying Gro.’ remained.

8.8 John Rocque’s Plan of the Cities of London, Westminster and Southwark 1769

Fig.14: Extract from John Rocque’s ‘Plan of the Cities of London, Westminster and Southwark’, 1769

This is the first time the completed St Luke’s church appears on a map extract, along with its churchyard, to the north-west of the site location. To the north-east the St Luke’s Workhouse can be seen, which was originally put into operation in 1733. As mentioned previously, 1733 was also the year when St Luke’s church was consecrated, heralding the creation of the civil and ecclesiastical parish of St Luke’s which extended north to City Road and south to Finsbury Square. The 1700s marked a period of more concentrated development in this area, especially with the construction of City Road in 1761 which linked the City with Islington and made St Luke’s parish more easily accessible.15

The site of ‘Tindal’s Burial Ground’ is clearly delineated on this plan to the south-east. The ‘Quakers Burying Grounds’ can also be seen to the south of the site location; this was not a new development as The Society of Friends had purchased the site in 1661.

This is also the first extract that more clearly makes distinctions between different properties and areas on the south side of Old Street. A ‘Tripe Yard’ is marked on the plan, and this was at first thought to be a potential precursor to ‘Tilney Court.’ However, comparisons with later

15 Black,N. (2007). The Lost Hospitals of St Luke’s. p.126

27 plans, such as Horwood’s below, indicate that Tilney Court was not directly opposite Henry Street as Tripe Yard is on Rocque’s plan. Furthermore, Horwood’s 1799 plan also shows that Tilney Court was in close proximity to the large yard here marked as ‘Farm Yard,’ therefore the position of Tilney Court should be further west than where Tripe Yard is here indicated on Rocque’s plan.

8.9 Richard Horwood’s Plan of London and Westminster 1799

Fig.15: Extract from Richard Horwood’s ‘Plan of London and Westminster’, 1799

Horwood’s 1799 plan is the first extract that appears in this document with Tilney Court marked on it, and also the first instance in which individual buildings along Old Street are clearly delineated. St Luke’s Hospital can be seen to the north-east of the site location. Due to the spatial restrictions of a pre-existing hospital on Finsbury Square, in 1786 this institution was built at over 500m long to house the mentally ill.16

This is also the first extract which shows the existence of Banner Street and Banner Square, which existed from 1798. The latter was created through “setting back two facing terraces to give an illusion of a small square.”17 It was later renumbered in 1895 as being simply part of Banner Street.

16 Black,N. (2007). The Lost Hospitals of St Luke’s. p.128 17 Cosh, M. (1990) The Squares of Islington Part I: Finsbury and Clerkenwell.p.10

8.10 Harry Margary’s Balloon View of London 1851

Fig.16: Extract from Harry Margary’s ‘Balloon View of London’, 1851

The Balloon View of London provides a very different perspective on the area surrounding the site location, its creation coinciding with the Great Exhibition. The panorama provides a three- dimensional drawing, and unlike most other maps of London this example is south-facing. This allows a direct view onto the south side of Old Street and the site location itself. St Luke’s Church is a prominent landmark, with its unusual obelisk steeple better represented in this work. The continued existence of the Bunhill Burial Ground and Artillery Ground can also be seen, whilst the location of City Road to the north-west is also visible. Although it is difficult to be precise about the exact location of the entrance into Tilney Court, there is an indication of a passageway on the plan which could be a representation of this. As this panorama shows, by the 1850s St Luke’s was densely developed. Indeed, at this time the parish was overcrowded with 245 people per acre, compared to just 170 in Clerkenwell and 71 in Westminster.18

18 Black,N. (2007). The Lost Hospitals of St Luke’s. p.125

8.11 Ordnance survey map London First Edition XXVII 1872-77

Fig.17: Extract from ‘Ordnance Survey Map London First Edition XXVII’, 1872-77

This is the first Ordnance Survey Map extract that appears in this document, thus it is much more standardised in design. Bartholomew Square, dating to 1815, can be seen to the north. This replaced the earlier Old Street Square.19 There seems to be a small square structure associated with the southern end of 134 Old Street; comparisons with the goad map below could indicate that this was a small extension to the property accessed from the interior.

This is the first map extract that clearly shows that the area south of the site had been considerably reorganised, with urban development of much of the land previously set aside as the Quaker Burial Grounds which had been closed in 1855.

19 Cosh, M. (1990) The Squares of Islington Part I: Finsbury and Clerkenwell.p.10

8.12 Goad Insurance Plan, London Sheet 140, 1887

Fig.18: Extract from the 1887 Goad plan

Goad maps were first produced for Fire Insurance Companies, and as such give specific details about the usage and structure of individual buildings. In the case of 134 Old Street, in 1887 it was a brick shop with three storeys. The covered entrance passage into Tilney Court is shown, as well as the fact that the building had a tiled roof with a wall built 2ft below the roof line. The dotted line distinguishing the covered entrance passage from the rest of the building indicates this was a wooden or plaster wall that was only present on some floors.

The fact that the building had three floors at this point is particularly interesting as the contemporary structure only has two. Furthermore, the map indicates that almost all of the buildings on the south side of Old Street were uniformly three storeys, however the contemporary assortment of buildings are much more variable in nature. Old Street was as much a commercial street in 1887 as it is today-132 Old Street was a public house, for example, whilst 136 Old Street was also a shop.

8.13 Ordnance Survey Map London Sheet VII.45, 1896

Fig.19: Extract from ‘Ordnance Survey Map London’, 1896

The Ordnance Survey for 1896 shows some little difference in the area from the two previous maps, but is worth referencing in terms of its clearer layout. As has been seen from the cartographic evidence since 1872, a public house is located next to the site at 132 Old Street, with several others in the immediate vicinity to the north-west and west of Old Street.

8.14 Ordnance Survey County Series 3rd Edition Map of London Sheet V6, 1912-14

Fig.20: Extract from ‘Ordnance Survey County Series 3rd Edition Map of London Sheet V6,’ 1912-14

By the early 1900s, it appears that the configuration of Tilney Court had changed somewhat with the tenement buildings on the eastern side no longer in line with the southern-most extension of 134 Old Street. A recreation ground had by this time also been built in Bartholomew Square.

8.15 Ordnance Survey Plan 1:1250, TQ3282SW, 1938

Fig.21: Extract from ‘Ordnance Survey County Plan Revised by County Council,’ 1938

By 1938, it appears that the overall footprint of 134 Old Street had changed somewhat with the small south-eastern extension of the building no longer existing (the contemporary site overlying the plan also indicates approximately where it was previously).

8.16 Google Earth Historical Imagery aerial view of Old Street, 1945

Fig.22: Extract from Google Earth© Historical Imagery ‘aerial view of Old Street’ 1945

This aerial view taken in the last year of the Second World War shows that Old Street was not affected considerably by the bombings during the conflict. The grounds of St Luke’s Church can be seen to the north-west.

8.17 Ordnance Survey Plan 1:1250, TQ3282SW, 1953

Fig.23: Extract from ‘Ordnance Survey Plan 1:1250, TQ3282’ 1953, surveyed 1952

The 1953 Ordnanace Survey map of Old Street indicates areas that were significantly damaged during the war and had still not been redeveloped, such as a large area to the east oppsite the newly established ‘Food Factory.’ In 1917, St Luke’s Hospital had been bought by the Bank of England and converted into a print works. It had suffered bomb damage during the war but continued to be used until 1963 when it was demolished.20 It can be seen here to the north-east of the site location. 1-5 Tilney Court, properties to the rear of Tilney Court and properties along Banner Street were all seriously damaged in the war, thus it appears that Tilney Court was re- established within ten years of the conflict.

20 Black, N. (2007). The Lost Hospitals of St Luke’s. p.128

8.18 London County Council Photograph Library’s photograph of Old Street: looking east to Bunhill Row, 1969

Fig.24: London County Council Photograph Library’s photograph of ‘Old Street: looking east to Bunhill Row’ 1969. The black arrow indicates the location of 134 Old Street

This photograph gives a clearer sense of how Old Street and the site will have appeared in the late 1960s. The shop front, presumably for British Pen Makers Ltd as is indicated in the Kilney Post Office London Directories for 1965 and 1970, is just visible. It also appears that the property at this time still had three storeys, as well as 136 Old Street which is now a five storey building. The upper façade of 142-145 remains to the present day, as can be seen from fig.28 which was taken at a similar angle. The size of the streets and the road itself seem to be comparable with the contemporary street, although there has been the addition of bus lanes since.

8.19 Ordnance Survey Plan 1:1250, TQ3282SW, 1975

Fig.25: Extract from ‘Ordnance Survey Plan 1:1250, TQ3282’ 1975

This Ordnance Survey plan shows that the layout of 134 Old Street and Tilney Court have not changed much since the 1950s, and have not altered much, if at all, to the present day. The Kilney Post Office London Directories for 1965 and 1970 record that 134 Old Street was the premises for the British Pen Makers Ltd, whilst Tilney Court housed Colin & Wilson Printers Ltd in 1965 and then S. Patmore & G.H. book and card edge gilder. This suggests that this area was not only commercial but also focused on specialist stationary and printing services.

9 THE PRESENT SITE

9.1 A visit was made to the site on the 22nd of September 2015, and a photographic record made of the site as is. What follows is a written description of the site accompanied by illustrative photographs. The following section should be read in conjunction with fig.26, for location of photographs, and figs.27-36 for views of the present site.

Fig.26: Plan of site boundary, altered to show the direction of view of figs. 27-36, scale 1:1250

Fig. 27: View of the frontage of the site and pedestrian access into Tilney Court, facing S

Fig. 28: Oblique view of site and its proximity to Old Street roundabout, facing NE

9.2 The site stands between a six storey office building at 130 Old Street and a five storey terraced building at 136 Old Street. As can be seen from fig.28, the site lies just west of Old Street roundabout.

Fig. 29: Oblique view of site and the spire of St Luke’s church, facing NWW

9.3 The distinctive obelisk steeple of St Luke’s church is clearly visible from the site itself. The character of the surrounding area, including the Grade II listed church and the nearby St Luke’s conservation area, needs to be considered in terms of the design and appearance of the new development.21

21 Broomhall,T. (2015) Pre-Application Response, p.3

Fig. 30: Oblique view of pedestrian access into Tilney Court from Old Street, facing SSW

9.4 The site adjoins residential buildings at 1-5 Tilney Court. Pedestrian access into Tilney Court from Old Street is gated, and the first floor of the property covers this. The development will not have any impact on the current form of access into Tilney Court.

Fig. 31: View into Tilney Court, facing SSE

Fig. 32: View towards Old Street in Tilney Court, facing NNW.

9.5 Tilney Court itself is surfaced with tarmac, and as can be seen from fig.32, there is evidence of ample drainage in the form of manhole covers and pipes; such features could potentially have led to localised truncation of the archaeological remains within the area. The court currently comprises of multi-use buildings, with 8-9 Tilney Court having been granted permission for a five storey side extension in 2015.

Fig. 33: View of the first floor of the site covering the pedestrian access, facing NNW

Fig. 34: West side of site facing Tilney Court, facing NEE

Fig. 35: Oblique view of access to Old Street out of Tilney Court, facing NNE

Fig. 36: View of residential buildings opposite the site, facing NNW

9.6 The north side of Old Street directly opposite the site is currently a housing estate.

10 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

10.1 The proposed development will entail the demolition of the existing structure and the construction of a new ground floor plus 5-storey building with an additional basement level. The basement and ground floor will only occupy the eastern part of the site adjoining 140 Old Street. From first floor to fifth floor the development also spans the pedestrian access from Old Street to Tilney Court, (as it does now), and adjoin 130 Old Street. The front of the property at fifth floor level will include a roof terrace / balcony.

10.2 The proposed ground floor will have a slightly reduced footprint at 25m2 as opposed to 47m2 previously, and will provide office space as before, (Unit 1). The ground floor office space is directly accessible from Old Street whilst the other offices will be accessed from a separate entrance facing onto Tilney Court and via a flight of stairs along the south of the building or via the adjacent lift.

Fig.37: Proposed ground floor plan

10.3 The proposed basement will provide additional office space as part of Unit 1 at ground floor level. This area will be accessible via a flight of stairs in the northwest corner or via a passenger lift near the rear of the property. At 44m2 the basement is a completely new addition to the site which apparently has never had this kind of feature before. Therefore the new basement will truncate any surviving archaeological deposits found below existing ground level.

Fig.38: Proposed basement plan

Fig.39: Roof plan, (blue) showing the first to fifth floors spanning the pedestrian access to Tilney Court, with balcony at fifth storey level, (green)

10.5 The proposed construction method will involve the demolition of the existing structure and the creation of a new basement. The construction of the new building will entail significant ground disturbance and truncation of underlying deposits; both in the demolition of the existing structure and excavation of the new basement. It is important to stress that as no previous basementing seems to have occurred on this site, and the fact that the current structure is relatively small and unlikely to have large footings, indicates that the survival of archaeological deposits at a higher level is far more likely.

Fig.40: Proposed north-facing elevation onto Old Street

Fig.41: East-facing section through the proposed development, (south to left, north to right)

10.6 In summary any surviving archaeological deposits within at least the proposed basement footprint are at risk of total loss. A suitable archaeological mitigation will be necessary to counter this perceived threat, either in the form of trial pits to assess the survival of deposits across the site, or a watching brief during the basement excavation to ensure a record is made of any as yet unknown archaeological assets that may be exposed during the groundwork.

11 ARCHAEOLOGICAL POTENTIAL FOR THE STUDY SITE

11.1 Prehistoric

Apart from the recovery of struck flint, fired stone and Late Bronze Age-Iron Age pottery in the grounds of the Honourable Artillery Company, there has been very limited evidence of prehistoric occupation in the local area. Otherwise, only individual prehistoric finds have been recovered, representing chance isolated discoveries.

The chances of encountering prehistoric remains is therefore deemed to be low.

11.2 Roman

Despite the fact that Old Street may have had a Roman origin, and certainly co-existed with Londinium, only a few isolated finds have been found in proximity to the site location. This could reflect the fact that Old Street and its surrounding area were outside of the city walls and thus urbanism was less concentrated, but also perhaps poor preservation as a result of the marshy nature of Moorfields and certainly later truncation.

This suggests it is possible that limited Roman remains could be recovered, but the likelihood is very low.

11.3 Saxon

No Anglo-Saxon remains have been found in the site’s local area.

Thus it is deemed that the chance that Anglo-Saxon remains will be found is negligible.

11.4 Medieval

As 13th-15th century stock enclosures and concentrated areas of trampled ground have been discovered nearby at 122-128 Old Street, there is potential for similar features to have survived on the site. The discovery of the line of a road and terraced buildings within the wider study area, as well as reclamation dumping, demonstrates that other medieval features have survived in the immediate vicinity. There is still, however, the possibility that medieval remains could have been truncated by post-Medieval activity.

In which case it is suggested there is a medium potential for encountering similar medieval features as those found at 122-128 Old Street, specifically stake holes and concentrated areas of trampled ground associated with extramural agricultural activity.

11.5 Post-medieval

Post-medieval remains, whether funerary or structural in nature, are relatively common within the wider study area reflecting the increase development from the mid-17th century onwards. Dumping, quarrying and specialist production activity have been discovered in the surrounding area. Also, 17th century pits overlay 17th-18th century dumping and a cellar wall at 122-128 Old Street.

Therefore there is a medium to high chance of finding post-medieval remains.

12 CONCLUSIONS

Through the course of this desk-based assessment it has become clear that the site lies on a road that has existed at least since the Roman period. As can be seen from Ralph Agas’ Civitas Londinium, (fig.8), in the 1570s Old Street still lay outside the city walls, and it wasn’t until 1658, (fig.9), that the site appears to have been built upon according. By the mid-18th century, (fig.14), there was more concentrated urban development within the study area. Richard Horwood’s Plan of London and Westminster 1799, (fig.15), provides the first clear cartographical representation of ‘Tilney Court’ and the associated building on the site of 134 Old Street. The format of street frontage building and rear court appears to have remained largely unchanged, to the present day.

There is a medium chance of finding medieval agricultural features, as these have been discovered during excavations at 122-128 Old Street just 187ft away. More specifically, a watching brief report from the site advises:

“The potential for survival for ancient ground surfaces (horizontal archaeological stratigraphy) is low. There is a greater potential for survival of cut features.”22

As 17th-18th features were also discovered at 122-128 Old Street, as well as numerous other post-medieval examples within the study area, it is surmised that the chance of finding archaeological remains from this period are medium to high.

As the site does not obviously appear to have been previously basemented the potential for in situ preservation of earlier remains is deemed to be higher than in other cases.

Due to the site’s location within the Moorfields Archaeological Priority Zone, the potential for locally significant 13th-18th century remains, and the total loss of any potential archaeological remains through the excavation of a new basement, some form of archaeological mitigation may be deemed necessary. Historic England have advised, (pre-planning), that this could involve monitoring of any geological test pits to establish the potential of archaeological remains to survive. Following this, areas of archaeological interest could be defined and full archaeological excavation of said areas could be undertaken, especially those identified within the footprint of the proposed basement. Any perceived need for further archaeological mitigation could be appended as a suitably worded condition onto any successful planning application rather than as a pre-planning condition.

22 Museum of London Archaeology (2007) 122-128 Old Street An Archaeological Watching Brief, p.10

13 SOURCES

13.1 Published sources

Black,N. (2007). The Lost Hospitals of St Luke’s. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. (100) p.125-129

Booth.P and Sandy.K, (2014), English Heritage Greater London Archaeological Advisory Service Archaeology Priority Area Guidelines (Revised Draft)

Boyle,A., Boston,C. and Witkin,A. (2005) The Archaeological Experience at St Luke’s Church, Old Street, Islington. Oxford Archaeology

Broomhall,T. (2015) Pre-Application Response

Cosh, M. (1990) The Squares of Islington Part I: Finsbury and Clerkenwell. Islington Archaeology & History Society

Islington Council, (2013), Islington’s Local Plan: Development Management Policies

Islington Council, (2014), Basement Development Draft Supplementary Planning Document, July 2015

Kelly's Directories Ltd (1965) The Post Office London Directory

Kelly's Directories Ltd (1970) The Post Office London Directory

Margary, I W, (1967) Roman roads in Britain, London

Museum of London Archaeology (2007) 122-128 Old Street An Archaeological Watching Brief

Wessex Archaeology (2006) Honourable Artillery Company, City Road, London Borough of Islington: watching brief. London: Wessex Archaeology, Report No. 61090.04

Willats, E.A. (1987) Streets With A Story The Book of Islington

13.2 Cartographic sources (in chronological order)

Ralph Aga. Civitas Londinum (1570)

William Faithorne and Richard Newcourt. Map of London (1658)

John Senex. Plan of London (1720)

Richard Blome. Map of St. Gile’s Cripplegate Without (1720)

John Stow. Map of Shoreditch, Norton Folgate and Crepplegate Without (1755, first published 1598)

Benjamin Cole. A New and Accurate Survey of the Parish of St Andrews Holbourne (1756)

John Rocque. Plan of the Cities of London, Westminster and Southwark (1769)

Richard Horwood. Plan of London and Westminster (1799)

Harry Margary. Balloon View of London (1851)

Ordnance Survey. London First Edition Sheet XXVII (1872-77)

Charles E. Goad. Insurance Plan London Sheet 140 (1887)

Ordnance Survey. London Sheet VII.45 (1896)

Ordnance Survey. County Series 3rd Edition Map of London Sheet V6 (1912-14)

Ordnance Survey Plan. TQ3282SW:1:1250 scale (1938)

Google Earth Historical Imagery. Aerial view of Old Street (1945)

Ordnance Survey Plan. TQ3282SW: 1:1250 scale (1953)

London County Council Photograph Library. Old Street: looking east to Bunhill Row (1969)

Ordnance Survey Plan. TQ3282SW:1:1250 scale (1975)

Ordnance Survey Plan. TQ3282SW:1:1250 scale (2011)

Appendix I Pre-planning advice from Historic England