Category: Project News

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Spring 2026 Newsletter Now Available

The Ballast Hills Burial Ground Spring 2026 Newsletter is now available, and it is one of our fullest updates yet.

This issue looks back over a busy start to the year and brings together the many strands of work helping to uncover, care for, and share the histories of Ballast Hills. From cholera, coins, and a colliery explosion to archive discoveries, volunteer reflections, Green Days, public talks, and the Newcastle University Engagement and Place Award win, the newsletter offers a rich snapshot of the project’s recent activity.

The issue also looks ahead to a busy programme of activity in the months to come, including community events, transcription opportunities, volunteering, and plans for Heritage Open Days. We hope it gives a sense of the energy, generosity, curiosity, and care that continue to shape the Ballast Hills Burial Ground project.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this issue and to the wider project. We are grateful for the time, knowledge, stories, and support that so many people continue to share.

Read the Spring 2026 newsletter here: Ballast Hills Burial Ground Spring 2026

If you missed earlier issues, the full set of Ballast Hills Burial Ground newsletters can be found here.

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BHBG Project wins Engagement and Place Award

We are delighted to share that Ballast Hills Burial Ground has won a Newcastle University Engagement and Place Award in the category Engaging for Cultural Benefit.

The Engagement and Place Awards celebrate the connections, curiosity, and care that shape meaningful engagement between the University, partners, and wider communities. For Ballast Hills, this recognition reflects the collective work of volunteers, students, descendants, local residents, family historians, heritage partners, researchers, and community groups who have helped reconnect the burial ground with the people, histories, and responsibilities it continues to hold.

We were proud to be shortlisted alongside two inspiring projects: From Collections to Climate Change, led by Dr Kristin Hussey and Dr Clare Hickman, and Listening to the Voices of the Rivers, led by Dr Giuliana Borea. Together, the shortlisted projects show the richness of cultural engagement taking place across Newcastle University, from museums and environmental interpretation to Indigenous philosophies, community dialogue, and funerary heritage. More information about the 2026 winners and shortlisted projects can be found on the Newcastle University Engagement and Place Awards page.

This award comes at an important moment. The AHRC Curiosity Award funding that has supported this phase of the project comes to an end in June 2026, but the work will continue. The project has created a strong foundation for future research, interpretation, conservation, and community engagement.

We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to Ballast Hills Burial Ground with such generosity, knowledge, and care. Thank you to our partners, volunteers, supporters, and all those who have shared memories, research, questions, and commitment. This award belongs to the wider community of people helping to make Ballast Hills visible again.

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Ballast Hills Burial Ground Project Shortlisted for Engagement and Place Awards 2026

We are delighted to share that the Ballast Hills Burial Ground (BHBG) project has been shortlisted for Newcastle University’s Engagement and Place Awards 2026 in the category Engaging for Cultural Benefit.

This recognition highlights the central role that engagement has played throughout the project. From the outset, BHBG has brought together local residents, descendants, students, volunteers, and partner organisations to rediscover and reframe one of Newcastle’s most significant, yet often overlooked, historic burial sites. Through archival research, fieldwork, creative activity, and shared learning, the project continues to reconnect people with the histories and meanings embedded in this landscape.

Being shortlisted is a real milestone, and it reflects the collective effort behind the project. A huge thank you goes to everyone who has contributed to making this possible, including our project partners, volunteers, students, and the many individuals and communities who have shared their time, knowledge, and stories. This recognition belongs to all of you.

We will share updates as the awards process continues, but in the meantime, we encourage anyone interested to get involved in the project.

We are also pleased to be launching a new opportunity to take part through Green Days at BHBG, developed in partnership with the Ouseburn Environment Group. These sessions will take place on the first Tuesday of each month, offering a chance to spend time on site, contribute to its care, and learn more about its history in a relaxed and welcoming setting. Further details will be shared in an upcoming post, so please look out for more information soon.

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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!

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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.

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Upcoming Newsletter! We want your input…

Our June newsletter is in the works and we welcome the input of anyone who would like to add a section or share their experiences with BHBG.

Whether you have a personal story connected to an individual buried within BHBG, further insight into the environment surrounding BHBG or any stories/historical knowledge about the time when Ballast Hills was an active burial site? We’d love to hear from you!

Contact our project email: ballast.hills@newcastle.ac.uk

Previous newsletters can be found here on the blog: https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/ballast-hills/newsletter/

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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!

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Phoenix Folk’s ‘Listening Party’ in collaboration with Ballast Hills Burial Ground!

On Sunday, 13th April from 7pm ‘Phoenix Folk’ will be hosting an online listening party for their collection of fiddle tunes telling the lost stories of ‘Ballast Hills’.

They will also be joined by poet Harry Gallagher.

The zoom will include a chat about the inspirations and stories behind the collection and also playing some of the digital tracks from the album.

To sign up to the zoom and access the codes from the website: CLICK HERE

If you want to hear more from ‘Phoenix Folk’ they also have an upcoming live in-person performance on the 2nd May @ Cullercoat’s Watch House. Titled ‘Beneath This Ground’ this performance promises to be an eclectic mixture of fiddle tunes and poetry retelling the stories buried at Ballast Hills.

All music and poetry has been created by Marina Dodgson, Maurice Condie and Harry Gallagher, make sure to register now: https://phoenixfolk.co.uk/events/folkwatchhouse-beneath/

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Upcoming Newsletter Sign Up!

Our second newsletter is nearly ready!

Email us @ballast.hills@newcastle.ac.uk with the subject line ‘Subscribe’ to receive April’s edition and be added to our monthly mailing list

A sneak peek at this April’s updates;

  • Take a look back at our launch event we hosted at Newcastle City Library
  • Learn more about what our volunteers uncovered during March’s gravestone cleaning
  • What do you call Ballast Hills? Plaguey Fields, Grannies Park, BH Playground, Park, Cemetery, or Burial Ground
  • Hear from one of our Descendents Group members about their experience with uncovering their family history locally at Ballast Hills

If you missed our March edition you can find it here on our blog under the ‘Newsletter’ tab on the homepage ➡️

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Our Project ‘Launch Event’🌳

On March 22nd, we had the pleasure of hosting our launch event at Newcastle City Library! The event was a huge success and was a lovely opportunity for project leads, volunteers, descendants and everyone interested in BHBG to meet and share their own experiences of the site.

During the afternoon we were lucky enough to welcome ‘Phoenix Folk’ and Harry Gallagher who performed a range of music and poetry in reflection and solidarity with those buried at BHBG.

We are so happy to share with you the collection of music and poetry composed by the amazing ‘Phoenix Folk’ in collaboration with BHBG! https://phoenixfolk.co.uk/product-category/book/

Take a look at some photos from the event…