HS2 archaeologists were able to identify his remains by the lead depositum plate (breast plate) placed on top of his coffin. The discovery of his burial site among 40,000 other human remains in the burial ground so early in the archaeological dig has thrilled archaeologists working on the project. He was buried at St. James’s burial ground on 23rd July 1814.

Captain (Cpt.) Flinders made several significant voyages, most notably as commander of H.M.S. Investigator which he navigated around the entire coast of Australia. This made him the first known person to sail around the country in its entirety, confirming it as a continent. He is also credited with giving Australia its name, although not the first to use the term, his work popularised its use. His surname is associated with many places in Australia, including Flinders Station in Melbourne, Flinders Ranges in South Australia and the town of Flinders in Victoria.

Following the expansion of Euston station westwards into part of the burial ground in 1840s, Flinders’s headstone was removed and it was thought that his remains had been lost. For a long time, there was an urban myth that Cpt. Flinders was buried under platform 15.

The discovery was made as archaeologists excavate the site where the HS2 station will be built. The archaeology programme is a central part of HS2’s ground preparation works for Phase One of the project, London to Birmingham. The HS2 project is well underway with a programme of work, preparing sites, ahead of main construction this year.

At the bicentenary of his death in 2014, a memorial statue of Cpt. Matthew Flinders was unveiled by the Duke of Cambridge at Australia House and later installed at Euston Station. Virgin Trains also named one of its Pendolino trains “The Matthew Flinders”.

Cpt. Matthew Flinders will be reinterred with the buried population of St. James’s Gardens at a location to be announced.

Commenting on the discovery ahead of Australia Day on 26th January, Helen Wass, HS2 Ltd’s Head of Heritage, said:

The discovery of Cpt. Matthew Flinders’s remains is an incredible opportunity for us to learn more about the life and remarkable achievements of this British navigator, hydrographer and scientist. He put Australia on the map due to his tenacity and expertise as a navigator and explorer.

Given the number of human remains at St. James’s, we weren’t confident that we were going to find him. We were very lucky that Cpt. Flinders had a breastplate made of lead meaning it would not have corroded. We’ll now be able to study his skeleton to see whether life at sea left its mark and what more we can learn about him.

This discovery is particularly exciting for me as an archaeologist as Cpt. Matthew Flinders was the grandfather of renowned Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie, commonly known as the ‘Father of Archaeology’.

The Flinders name is synonymous with exploration, science and discovery and HS2, through its archaeology programme, will ensure that we maximise the opportunities for further academic and scientific study.

The scientific study of human remains from St James’s burial ground will better our understanding of life and death in London’s 18th and 19th centuries, shedding light on health and disease, social status and lifestyle. Those buried in the long since demolished chapel and burial ground include individuals from all walks of life: paupers and nobility, artists and musicians, soldiers and sailors, inventors and industrialists, as well as victims of accidents, disease, suicide and murder. Research of the burial records has revealed that a number of other notable people were interred at St James’s, including:

• Bill ‘the Black Terror’ Richmond – a slave born in New York who became a free Londoner and a celebrated bare-knuckle boxer who was favoured by King George IV and taught Lord Byron to spar
• Lord George Gordon – a political and religious activist famous for his part in the anti-Catholic ‘Gordon Riots’ of 1780
• James Christie – a British naval officer who became a leading auctioneer who founded Christie’s auction house in 1766

Commenting on the wider HS2 programme, Mark Thurston, HS2 Ltd’s Chief Executive, said:

How we build HS2 is as important to us as what we are building, which is why we are committed to sharing as much of our cultural heritage as possible. The discovery of one of Britain’s most significant explorers helps us tell stories of our past as we prepare to build a high speed rail network that is an important part of our future.

Before we bore the tunnels, lay the tracks and build the stations, an unprecedented amount of archaeology is now taking place between London and Birmingham. This is the largest archaeological exploration ever in Britain, employing archaeologists and heritage specialists from across the country and beyond, and we’re proud its part of the wider HS2 story.

Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt is returning from Washington following meetings with Senior US Administration figures focused on the UK and US’s shared efforts to tackle the increasing challenges to democracy throughout the world.

During his visit Jeremy Hunt met Vice-President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, National Security Advisor John Bolton, National Security Agency Director General Nakasone, acting Presidential Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner.

The Foreign Secretary discussed the developing situation in Venezuela and condemned the announcement by Nicolas Maduro that Venezuela would end diplomatic ties with the United States. He also thanked the US Administration for their support for the two recent UK-drafted resolutions on Yemen in the UN Security Council. The Foreign Secretary and Secretary Pompeo agreed to host a meeting of the ‘quad’ group on Yemen in the margins of the upcoming Ministerial meeting on the Middle East in Warsaw in February.

The Foreign Secretary’s visit came as the UK and US jointly announced their intention to impose travel restrictions and other sanctions on any individual found to be illegally interfering in the upcoming Nigerian elections including by using or encouraging violence in an attempt to influence the elections.

Speaking following his visit, the Foreign Secretary said:

The enduring relationship between the UK and US is not a product of coincidence or historic accident, it is the result of our shared values. These values are at the heart the foreign policy of both of our countries. And none of these values is more important than respect for democracy – the invisible chain that has bound our countries together throughout history.

Given the threats to democracy we are seeing throughout the world – from the rigged election last year in Venezuela to appalling violations of human rights in Syria to the Houthi coup in Yemen four years ago that gave rise to a devastating civil war – the relationship between the UK and US is more important than ever before. I was pleased to have the chance to discuss that relationship, and the challenges to democracy around the world that we are working together to overcome, in Washington today.

With Secretary Pompeo we agreed today that we would host a meeting in February with Saudi Arabia and the UAE to bolster our support for the Stockholm process and agree next steps for further progress on a political settlement.

Background:

• The UK and US statements on Nigerian elections is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-election-violence-sanction-statement
• The Foreign Secretary’s remarks to media on developments in Venezuela are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/foreign-secretary-statement-on-situation-in-venezuela

Further information

Speaking ahead of his meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said:

Sajid Javid and French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner held productive talks in Westminster and vowed to increase joint co-operation following a rise in the number of migrants attempting to cross the dangerous shipping lane in small boats.

As part of the action plan, which will see over £6 million invested in new security equipment, there will be a mutual commitment to conduct return operations as quickly as possible under the Dublin Regulation. A small number of migrants, who made the illegal journey at the end of last year, were returned to France this morning.

In addition, the Home Secretary and Interior Minister agreed that migrants encountered in the Channel will be taken to the nearest safe port, in accordance with international maritime law. This will build on the success of the French authorities in preventing attempted departures in French ports and beaches which has seen 44 successful disruptions covering 267 individuals since January 2018.

The UK will continue to work closely with France and other countries to return more migrants who have entered the UK by small boat in order to provide a strong deterrent against the dangerous crossings.

Home Secretary, Sajid Javid said:

It is vital we continue to work closely with our French partners to stop vulnerable migrants making these treacherous crossings and tackle the people smugglers who are putting their lives in danger.

Today’s joint action plan strengthens our already strong relationship and increases joint action around keeping both our borders secure and discouraging these dangerous journeys.

French Interior Minister, Christophe Castaner said:

This agreement once again shows the UK’s commitment to managing our shared border along with us. By combating illegal Channel crossings by migrants, we’re saving lives and deterring new migrants from coming to Hauts-de-France.

The UK agreed to allocate over £6 million (€7 million) to support the French’s comprehensive regional action plan which has been in place since early January and has seen additional surveillance and security on French beaches and ports as well as greater co-ordination between the French authorities on land and at sea.

Just over half of the investment will come from £44.5 million (€50 million) already allocated under the Sandhurst Treaty, an agreement on UK-France co-operation signed by the Prime Minister and President Macron in January 2018. An additional £3.2 million (€3.6 million) of new funding will be used for equipment and measures to tackle illegal migration by small boats, such as CCTV, night goggles and number plate recognition capability, helping to support the UK and French border and maritime teams to detect and crack down on illegal activity.

Additional security cameras will be strategically placed at French ports and in areas where migrants may attempt to embark boats, and will feed live CCTV footage into the UK-France Coordination and Information Centre in Calais which is staffed by both British and French agencies.

There will be increased surveillance of the Channel by air and boat patrols, with shared intelligence between UK and French authorities. Foot patrols across beaches and coastal areas by the French police will be ramped up, and attempted crossings will be disrupted. Both governments have made clear that all criminals will be prosecuted.

The new plan will come into force immediately.

The consultation, launching tomorrow (25 January 2019), proposes that the legal protection against redundancy for pregnant women and new mothers on maternity leave is extended so that it continues for up to 6 months after they return to work. It will also seek views on affording the same protection to parents returning from adoption leave or shared parental leave.

Research commissioned by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), found 1 in 9 women said they had been fired or made redundant when they returned to work after having a child, or were treated so badly they felt forced out of their job. The same research estimates 54,000 women a year may lose their jobs due to pregnancy or maternity.

Prime Minister Theresa May said:

People in this country already benefit from some of the most rigorous workplace standards in the world, including parental leave and pay entitlements, but we are determined to do even more as we leave the EU.

It’s unacceptable that too many parents still encounter difficulties when returning to work. Today’s proposals are set to provide greater protection for new parents in the workplace, and put their minds at ease at this important time.

This move goes further than current EU requirements on maternity entitlements and parental leave, showing that the UK is going even further in its commitment to workers’ rights and meeting the challenges of the changing world of work. This follows the biggest package of workplace reforms for over 20 years that was set out by the Business Secretary in December 2018.

On parental leave and pay alone:

• we already offer maternity entitlements of up to 52 weeks of maternity leave – 39 weeks of which are paid
• we have given fathers and partners a statutory right to paternity leave and pay, and we have allowed eligible parents to share leave and pay where the mother does not intend to use all of her maternity entitlements
• and we have given all employees with 26 weeks’ qualifying service a right to request flexible working, not only those returning from parental leave

Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst said:

Pregnancy and maternity discrimination is illegal. But some new mothers still find unacceptable attitudes on their return to work which effectively forces them out of their jobs.

Through the modern Industrial Strategy and the largest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation, the government is building an economy that ensures everyone can progress at work. That’s why we are looking at ways to further protect new parents by giving them time to re-establish themselves in the workplace and show the value they bring to their employers.

Justine Roberts, Mumsnet founder, said:

Mumsnet users talk a lot about pregnancy and maternity discrimination, and in a 2018 survey 96% of women we surveyed said having children affected mothers’ careers for the worse.

It’s a multifaceted problem requiring a change in attitude and culture as well as legislation, but stronger legal protection is a very welcome first step.

Jane van Zyl, CEO of work-life balance charity Working Families, said:

We hear from women struggling with pregnancy and maternity discrimination every single day on our helpline. But pregnancy and maternity discrimination isn’t just bad news for families; it’s also bad news for the economy.

Whilst many of the companies we work with already understand the business benefits of family-friendly workplaces, some employers still don’t. Proposals to extend protection from redundancy to new mothers and parents returning to work should go a long way toward protecting their jobs – and to reducing the shocking number of women who lose their jobs due to pregnancy and maternity discrimination.

Because more and more parents are sharing care equally, we welcome plans to ensure equal treatment for parents returning from Shared Parental Leave or adoption – bringing their rights in line with those enjoyed by women on maternity leave.

The consultation will be available on GOV.UK, and will run for 10 weeks ending on 5 April 2019.

Research commissioned in collaboration with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in 2016 found that 11% of women reported they were either dismissed; made compulsorily redundant, where others in their workplace were not; or treated so poorly they felt they had to leave their job. 20% of mothers reported other financial loss which included failing to gain a promotion, salary reduction, a lower pay rise or bonus, not receiving non-salary benefits and/or demotion.

The consultation on pregnancy and maternity discrimination will:

• set out the current legal protections for pregnant women and new mothers under the Equality Act 2010 and the Employment Rights Act 1996
• ask how an extension of redundancy protection currently afforded under the Employment Rights Act for those on maternity leave and other types of family related leave and pay might work best, and how long this protection should last
• ask whether a similar protection should be afforded to other groups (such as those returning from other forms of long term childcare leave – principally adoption leave and shared parental leave)
• set out the steps that the government is taking to increase employees awareness of their rights and employers’ awareness of their obligations, and invites comments on how they might be improved, to tackle pregnancy and maternity discrimination more effectively
• consider the existing approach to the enforcement of employment and equalities legislation in the context of recommendations from the Women and Equalities Select Committee and the Taylor Review
• discuss the 3-month time limit within which a claim of discrimination can ordinarily be brought to an Employment Tribunal

These measures form part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy, published last year, which sets out how the whole of the UK can build on its strengths, extend them into the future, and capitalise on new opportunities.

Featured image credit: FatCamera/iStock (ID 901666764)