A watching brief was undertaken during the excavation of the deposits below the modern ground surface within the footprint of the proposed office blocks. This was down to a maximum depth of 3.5m below the modern ground surface. Mechanical excavations were carried out under archaeological supervision to remove the modern overburden. All archaeological work was carried out by hand. The area under investigation corresponded with a low lever goods yard associated with the development of Leeds Central Station in the 1840's. Archaeological monitoring revealed the northern ends of several viaduct archway piers, three turntable bases, conduits for metal line shafting and a potential crane base. Any earlier archaeological features had been destroyed by the construction work carried out as part of the construction of the railway station,
Holly Drinkwater (Fri,) studied this question.