Archeologists In England Unearthed The Remains Of A Phenomenal 16th-Century Secret

In January 2021 the old and new world collided in a remarkable way near the U.K. city of Birmingham. Plans to build a modern railway line meant that archeologists had to check they wouldn’t destroy anything historically significant along the track route. Yet in this unassuming part of England, experts were about to find one of the most extraordinary Elizabethan sites ever discovered.

A huge undertaking

The massive railway project in question is known as High Speed Two (HS2). When complete, it’ll connect the capital of London with other major cities in northern England, the Midlands and even Scotland. It’s a huge undertaking that’s going to have a major impact. But as you can imagine, the sheer scale means that building it is proving a lengthy, costly process!

From hub to hub

Around 22,000 workers will be needed for phase one of HS2 before the project even gets to the northern parts of England, according to its official website. This first stage involves 140 miles of track and will include the longest viaduct in Britain. The intention is that it will lead to more trains traveling faster along routes that connect eight of the U.K.’s ten largest cities.

Doubts about the plan

But how far will HS2 extend? Well, by the time the project is finished, it will apparently span nearly 350 miles. The first phase focuses on the journey from London to Birmingham, but later stages will expand to other major cities like Manchester and Leeds. It’s claimed that the project will increase capacity, improve connectivity and reduce carbon emissions. That said, some still have questions about its effectiveness.

Environmental controversy

HS2 is unquestionably the biggest infrastructure project Britain has seen in years. Ancient woodlands have been cut down and miles of countryside dug up. That’s part of the reason it’s caused controversy with some environmental groups. They think that the destruction it causes will be greater than the benefits.