Month: October 2024

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Help Shape the Future of Ballast Hills Burial Ground

Do you have a connection to Ballast Hills Burial Ground (BHBG) or an interest in its rich history within the Byker and Ouseburn area or are your ancestor's buried there?

Whether you’re linked to BHBG’s past, concerned for its future, or simply fascinated by its story, we’d love to hear from you. The BHBG Project, led by Newcastle University, is gathering input from those who care about this historic site and invite you to help shape its future.

If you’re interested, please take a moment to complete a short two-question survey here. Your input is vital in helping us connect with others who share an interest in BHBG, and the more voices we hear, the better!

Your feedback will play a key role in guiding our next steps, and we encourage you to share your ideas or get involved. This public engagement and research scoping project is funded by the AHRC’s Curiosity Award (July 2024–December 2025), supporting our work to connect with communities and explore new ways of understanding and preserving the site.

Let’s work together to make it happen!

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Burial Reform: Addressing Burial Space Shortages

The Law Commission has launched a public consultation to address the urgent issue of dwindling burial space in England and Wales. Burial laws, some of which date back to the 1850s, are inconsistent and outdated, with different regulations depending on whether burial grounds are managed by local authorities, the Church of England, the Church in Wales, or private entities. This fragmented legal framework has resulted in gaps in safeguarding the dignity of those interred, particularly as burial spaces run out in urban areas. See their consultation paper and a summary.

A key proposal is the reuse of graves, with strict safeguards in place. Graves could only be reused 75 years after the last burial, and public consultation would be required before any changes could be made, allowing relatives to express concerns. The consultation, launched on 3 October 2024, invites feedback on this and other issues, such as the regulation of burial grounds and the management of closed or disused cemeteries.

Cremation laws, although updated in 2017, also face unresolved issues, including disputes over entitlement to ashes, ownership of medical implants removed before cremation, and uncollected ashes at funeral directors’ premises.

The Law Commission encourages public engagement via an online questionnaire, with the consultation open until 9 January 2025. Feedback will shape final recommendations, which are expected by the end of 2025. These reforms are critical to ensuring burial space for future generations while respecting public sentiment and funeral traditions.