HS2 has confirmed that of the 9,000 bodies exhumed from Birmingham's Park Street Burial Ground to make way for the new Curzon Street station, only 5,000 have been reburied in a new resting place. The remaining 4,000 individuals are still in storage.
History of the burial ground
Park Street Burial Ground was operational between 1807 and 1873, serving as an overflow cemetery for St Martin's graveyard at the Bullring. It is thought that more than 18,000 people were buried there during that period.
Excavation process
Archaeological excavation took place between July 2018 and May 2019 to clear the land off Park Street for the HS2 project. Specialist teams exhumed around 9,000 sets of remains.
Current status
HS2 has stated that only 5,000 of the exhumed bodies have been reburied. The Church of England has also commented on the issue. HS2 construction continues, with first trains expected to depart for London between May 2036 and October 2039.
