Tag: get involved

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Share Your Views: Consultation Event on Ford Street Development

Igloo is hosting a consultation event on Wednesday, 22 January, to gather community input on plans for developing the site between Maling Street and Ford Street in the Lower Ouseburn Valley. Known locally as the “Candleflame” site, the location lies downslope of Ballast Hills Burial Ground (BHBG), adding a layer of historical significance to the proposed development.

The drop-in session will take place at 51 Lime Street from 12:00 to 20:00 and is open to all—residents, business owners, and anyone with an interest in Ouseburn’s future. No booking is required, so you can stop by at a time that works for you.

It’s unclear whether the burial ground extended as far as the Candleflame site, but burials are known to extend toward Ford Street. During the 1978/79 realignment of Ford Street, graves were disturbed, and human remains were removed and relocated elsewhere (Newcastle Journal, 24 November 1978, p. 10; 1 December 1978, p. 7).

The geophysical surveys conducted at BHBG in late 2024 may help identify the most effective tools for detecting burials by revealing patterns within the known site. These patterns could then be used as a reference to predict the burial ground’s boundaries when applied to areas extending beyond the currently understood site. We are still in the process of analysing the results.

This consultation session is a vital opportunity to share your perspective and help shape the plans for the future of the Lower Ouseburn Valley. Your participation is essential, as this development has the potential to significantly impact the area’s character and sense of place.

For those unable to attend, the consultation website will go live after the event and remain open until 17:00 on Monday, 29 January 2025.

Event Details:
📍 Location: 51 Lime Street
🗓 Date: Wednesday, 22 January 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00 – 20:00
No booking required – drop in at any time!

Whether you attend in person or contribute online, your input will help ensure that decisions about this development reflect the diverse views of the community, including the descendants of those buried at BHBG. Don’t miss this chance to have your say.

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Press Release: calling all descendants

We are excited to share that Newcastle University has issued a press release showcasing the latest developments in the Ballast Hills Burial Ground project. Dr Myra Giesen, the project lead, invites descendants of those buried at Ballast Hills to connect with the team and share their stories. Contributions will help shape an online Life Register and preserve this heritage for future generations. Archaeological surveys and archival research are ongoing, and the team welcomes volunteers to assist with various aspects of the project.

Read the full press release here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/press/articles/latest/2025/01/ballasthills/.

Join us in uncovering the hidden stories of Ballast Hills and ensuring that every voice is remembered.

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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.

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Call for Descendants: Join the Ballast Hills Burial Ground Story

Are you a descendant of someone interred or memorialised at Ballast Hills Burial Ground (BHBG)? We invite you to connect with others who share this unique heritage and join a new BHBG Descendants Group. This initiative aims to amplify the voices of your ancestors, enrich the narrative of BHBG, and foster a deeper connection to this historic site.

The BHBG Descendants Group will provide a space for descendants to share stories, contribute insights, and help shape the ongoing work of the project. Whether your relatives are buried here or simply remembered on a gravestone, your participation is invaluable in bringing this history to life.

If you would like to join or learn more, please reach out to the project team at ballast.hills@newcastle.ac.uk.

We also also sharing gravestone inscriptions on our Facebook page, offering glimpses into the lives of those who rest at BHBG. Join us in honouring their legacy and building a community that celebrates this remarkable burial ground’s rich history.

Let’s ensure the voices of the past continue to resonate through the generations.

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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@newcastle.ac.uk with any questions.

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

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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!