We’ve looked at Birmingham’s urban legends, from vampires to a Valleygator, and this is our verdict

As journalists, there are some really strict rules that we follow when reporting our news. The editor’s code we adhere to tells us to report fairly and accurately, not to overshare unnecessarily gruesome details, and not to shock others.

When it comes to non-journalists passing stories from person to person outside of official news? Whatever seems to go. And stories that are passed from person to person by word of mouth, unfiltered and sometimes misunderstood and misheard, can take a story and make it go on for miles until we’re not sure if what we’re hearing is a true account or an urban myth.

Like all regions, the West Midlands is full of old stories that most of us will have heard as we go through our lives. From trolls living under bridges hoping a late night punter is caught in need of a wee (!) to reptiles swimming beneath the surface of a swimming pool in… West Bromwich.

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Here, we take a look at some of those urban legends, myths and speculations with STRICT WARNING that we cannot validate the existence of any of them as a fact. We haven’t seen big cats with our own eyes, nor have our windows been smashed by a poltergeist…

1. The Ward End Vampire

In 2005, the police learned that a vampire was operating in Ward End. Well, it started in Ward End, before the nightcrawler (unverified, possibly completely made up) started crawling around Saltley, Small Heath and Alum Rock.

Brummies in the area heard that an old man had been attacked, his neighbours, eager to help, jumped in and met their fate. One woman had a “piece bitten off her hand”.

At the time, the cops said, “This appears to be an urban myth.” No victims ever came forward. Rumors continued, saying the vampire could turn into a dog, turn invisible, have red eyes, and have rabies. Maybe they are writing this story right now. Maybe they read it… Who knows.

VERDICT: A story you can sink your teeth into, but it sounds too good to be true.

2. The Big Cat(s?) of Cannock Chase

There have been numerous sightings over the years of big cats lurking in the trees of Cannock Chase. The beautiful wooded area is one of the most spectacular beauty spots in the country, but some believe it could be a stealthy feline.

Maybe people saw muntjac deer roaming the forest and mistook them for pumas or jaguars or something much more Jungle Book. But until we see one with our own eyes, we’re skeptical.

Our Isabelle went to try and discover one herself in the fall. You can read about her experience here. What do you think? Big cat? Or something else?

VERDICT: A purring myth, but we’re not sure it’s real fur.

3. The Little Troll

OK, so actually, it’s not exactly what’s called a “creature,” but given everything I said about journalistic rules earlier, we’re not going to use the gross P-word. But me, I mean WE, You know, you know what we mean, especially if you went clubbing in the Jewelry District in the 2000s.

So, er, the Wee Troll, he was said to hang out by the canal on Livery Street, waiting for squeamish revelers to fly over the edge of what was then Subway City (now the Tunnel Club) to relieve his bladder. canal bridge.

There, the masked “troll” was said to do his best to get a pint, if you know what we mean, by going with the flow. You know, now I write this, I immediately want to edit it. Next.

VERDICT: I said the FOLLOWING.

4. Sandwell Valleygator

This was one you would have heard of if you grew up in West Brom or spent any time playing at Sandwell Valley. The story goes that in the water at Swan Pool in 1999, it was long WORK was seen swimming. A Sandwell Valleygator.

It confused the fishermen who said that their catches are recovered with large pieces of them bitten off. Some people said it was three feet long, others noted it was six feet long, escaping through the water if frightened.

To be safe, the Swan Pool was closed to visitors over Easter to avoid being attacked by Sandwell Snapper. Its existence, like that of the Loch Ness monster, remains a mystery.

VERDICT: We’ll believe it if Valleygator is caught by photographers. Until then, we think it’s a crocodile.

5. Cannock Chase Pig Man

For generations, it’s a poem that has given chills to children playing on Cannock Chase: “When night falls, enter the woods at your peril, for within lurks something worse than the devil. Avoid at all costs the gathering place where the Pigman walks Cannock Chase at midnight.”

Since the 1940s people have said that the Pigman is half human, half pig. Apparently, at dusk, you can hear its terrifying screams.

I can’t help but feel that if it’s a big cat prowling the woods, it would find a pig too attractive to resist for a meal, so maybe they made it easy. Maybe we need to go listen at dusk to see for ourselves? Are you brave enough?

VERDICT: Sounds like a pork pie to us.

6. The melting woman

There was a red telephone box on Erdington’s Station Road and since the 1970s, locals have reported strange happenings in the public box. In December 1975, a Catholic priest and a couple are said to have been waiting outside the box to ring.

They waited as the woman inside, aged between 25 and 30 and wearing a red sweater, was blowing a blower. Wanting to know how long it would take, the priest opened the door… and the lady melted into thin air.

Who is she calling? Where did he go? She has been “seen” on other occasions over the years, but the story has changed over time. Sometimes it’s pink that she wore. Sometimes she would call for help, to save her children who had been caught in a house fire.

VERDICT: This one rings true.

7. Thornton Road Poltergeist

For three years since 1981, residents of Thornton Road in Ward End have been plagued by windows repeatedly smashed by polished stones. Roofs were destroyed and householders began to barricade their homes.

After police surveillance, secret cameras and neighbors failed to identify the “criminal” behind the attacks, clergy were brought in. This could be, people thought, paranormal activity.

At the time, Chief Inspector Len Turley said more than 1,000 hours of work had gone into the case. It was a different time. Three houses, 32, 34 and 36, fared worse.

It was a terrible time for all involved, with neighbors and residents suffering from the window-breaking mystery. Who or what was behind the attacks was never discovered.

VERDICT: A break in the case would crack this one – criminal activity rather than paranormal, we think.

8. The many ghosts of Aston Hall

Now this is something we have first hand experience of – we saw something, or someone, crawling around the windows when we went to Aston Hall on Halloween to find out more about the old ghosts said to haunt the manor .

There are a number of ghosts said to roam the old place. From Mrs. Holte to the children told to hold the hands of the women visiting the historic site.

We can’t know for sure if what we saw was real, a trick of the light, or something more sinister. Not definitely. At the time though? I felt the cold!

VERDICT: What I saw was amazing. The jury is out.

Are there any legends, stories, or urban myths you’ve heard about in your neighborhood? Let us know in the comments below.