Birmingham New Street Hauntings

During the construction of New Street Station in 1848, a Jewish cemetery was dug up to make room for the project.

For that reason, many paranormal enthusiasts believe the station was doomed from the get-go, and some tragic events which have occurred at the site would seem to suggest that New Street Station is cursed.

A 1921 collision of two trains at the station left over two dozen people injured and claimed the lives of three passengers. Along with this, the station’s platform four has seen four suicides, the most well documented of which is that of a former engine driver Walter Hartles.

At the age of 68, Hartles, experiencing insurmountable marital difficulties, took his own life inside a waiting room by shooting himself in the chest.

Since the day of his death, Walter Hartles has been spotted by countless travellers passing through New Street Station in the evening. He is said to sit alone, still clad in uniform, reliving the moments before his suicide.

Passengers have also encountered the spirit of a gentleman named Claude, who committed suicide by poisoning himself during the Victorian period. Like Walter, Claude appears in the clothes he was wearing at his death and sticks out like a sore thumb whenever he appears.

Several years ago, a séance was planned to get in touch with the spirits of New Street Station but was ultimately cancelled due to safety concerns. However, if you were to visit the station after dark, it is unlikely that you would need a ouija board to encounter a spirit.