HS2 Historic Environment Digital Archive
High Speed Two Ltd., 2023. https://doi.org/10.5284/1113008. How to cite using this DOI
- Introduction
- Overview
- Sites
- HS2 Collections:
- Metadata
- Usage Statistics
Data copyright © High Speed Two Ltd. unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under a The Open Government Licence (OGL).
Primary contact
High Speed Two Ltd.
2 Snowhill
Queensway
Birmingham
B4 6GA
United Kingdom
Tel: 08081 434 434
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 4060
- DOI:https://doi.org/10.5284/1113008
- How to cite using this DOI
Introduction
High Speed Two (HS2) has brought an unprecedented opportunity to explore our past through the country's largest ever linear infrastructure project. The sheer scale of discoveries, the geographical span of the project and the vast range of our history unearthed makes HS2's historic environment programme a unique chance to tell the story of Britain's past.
The railway was originally planned in several phases:
- Phase One: between London and the West Midlands
- Phase 2A: between the West Midlands and Crewe
- Phase 2B (west): between Crewe and Manchester
- Phase 2 east: between the West Midlands and Leeds.
The first phase (Phase One) of HS2, between London and the West Midlands is under construction.
HS2 Ltd is not undertaking any new work to progress Phase 2 east, 2a or 2b following Government announcements on the project.
The HS2 programme is a generational opportunity for significant knowledge creation, for engagement with people and the creation of a lasting archival and skills legacy. These three concepts underpin the approach to the historic environment set out in the Historic Environment Research and Delivery Strategy (HERDS).
The discoveries made along the route of HS2 help to tell the story of our nation. From the earliest prehistoric times, Roman and Medieval we can see how people shaped and changed their landscape. The changes in rural and urban living wrought by the industrial revolution can be charted as can our more recent history from the World Wars and the 20th century.
