6,500 dead bodies dug up to make way for HS2 rail station Thousands of graves were dug up at the site, which will house a new high-speed rail station

6,500 dead bodies have been dug up from a burial ground to make way for the HS2 railway station in Birmingham.

Excavations have concluded at the site, ahead of the start of construction on a new Birmingham Curzon Street railway station for the high-speed rail project.

Thousands of bodies are buried at Birminham’s Park Street burial ground, which opened in 1810.

The i newsletter latest news and analysis Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

It closed for public burials in 1873, after operating for 63 years.

Over a 12-month period, a team of archaeologists dug up more than 6,500 graves, discovering a wealth of artefacts including figurines, coins, toys and necklaces.

HS2 bosses say the remains will be reburied at a suitable location in consultation with the Church of England.

Careful and fascinating excavation

Claire Cogar, Lead Archaeologist from MOLA Headland, said: “The careful and fascinating excavation of Park Street burial ground is telling us a great deal of the effects of life in 19th-century Birmingham on the population.

“We hope to build a picture of the lives of the people who built Birmingham and made the city what it is today, from the diseases they suffered and what they ate, to where they came from.

“Our initial findings have already identified evidence of diseases including scurvy and rickets.

“We have also found interesting objects placed into burials. One burial contained a bone-handled knife, another had a figurine and others contained dinner plates.

“These finds provide insights into the types of burial rituals, traditions and practices of the 19th-century.”

Mike Lyons, HS2 West Midlands Programme Director, said: “Birmingham is at the heart of the HS2 network and we’re proud to have reached this first major milestone in the construction of Curzon Street station.

“We already know that Birmingham played a pivotal role in the Industrial Revolution and HS2’s archaeology programme will allow us to tell the story of the skilled workers who fuelled it.

“As part of our commitment to being a good neighbour, we’ve teamed up with the National Trust’s Heritage Open Days where we will be sharing with the local community our discoveries and insights from the site and what we’ve learned so far.”

HS2 review

The future of the HS2 project is currently up in the air, with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps ordering an independent review into “whether and how” the project to link Northern cities to London by high-speed rail should proceed.



Read More HS2: Campaigners warn 11 ancient woodlands still under threat despite temporary reprieve

After reports that costs had spiralled to as much as £88bn , Mr Shapps said: “The Prime Minister has been clear that transport infrastructure has the potential to drive economic growth, redistribute opportunity and support towns and cities across the UK, but that investments must be subject to continuous assessment of their costs and benefits.

“That’s why we are undertaking this independent and rigorous review of HS2.”

The London to Birmingham section of HS2 was due to open at the end of 2026, but could now be delayed to 2031.