Inside the Abandoned Curzon Street Station Building

Why It Matters

By exposing Curzon Street’s wartime scars and Victorian quirks, the video illustrates the delicate balance between heritage conservation and the ambitious HS2 expansion, informing stakeholders about the cultural stakes of modern rail development.

Key Takeaways

• Curzon Street station shows Victorian architecture with wartime damage
• Live cat burial discovered under building reflects superstitious traditions
• WWII bombings left iron reinforcements and extensive fire scars
• Restoration reveals original glass dome, stairwell, and boardroom spaces
• Site offers glimpse of future HS2 Birmingham terminal location

Summary

The video takes viewers inside the long‑abandoned Curzon Street railway station in Birmingham, once the terminus of the original London‑Birmingham line and now a relic beside the planned HS2 hub. The host walks through the grand Victorian façade, noting a commemorative plaque and the eerie tradition of burying a live cat beneath new structures, a superstition uncovered during recent renovations.

Key observations include extensive wartime damage: the building was heavily bombed in World War II, leaving fire‑scarred walls, added iron bracing, and a partially rebuilt glass dome. Inside, the staircase, boardroom, and original woodwork survive alongside later additions such as asbestos storage heaters and 1980s council signage. The tour also highlights a restored skylight, a view toward the future HS2 terminal, and the juxtaposition of historic grandeur with modern construction activity.

Notable moments feature the host pointing out the cat‑burial plaque, the cracked dome that was replaced in the late 1970s, and a clear sightline to where the new HS2 station will emerge. The narrative is punctuated by on‑site commentary from a colleague named Tim, who confirms the building’s original office function and the scale of the upcoming rail project.

The exploration underscores the challenges of preserving historic railway architecture while accommodating large‑scale infrastructure upgrades. It offers heritage enthusiasts and planners a tangible sense of how Birmingham’s rail past can inform the city’s future connectivity, especially as HS2 reshapes regional transport corridors.

Original Description

This video shot all the way back in early 2020!

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