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Dr Myra Giesen<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Myra initiated the work in 2019 and leads the wider Ballast Hills Burial Ground Project. She brings together research on the site, archive, and stories, alongside public engagement, partnerships, volunteering, conservation planning, and work to support the burial ground\u2019s long-term future.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Dr Shane McCorristine, Co-Investigator Rowan Ferguson, contributor to the significance assessment Lizzy Baker, Professor Jeremy Boulton, Rachel Gill, Rachel Grahame, Mike Greatbatch, Patrick Low, Andrew Scrogham, Emily Toth, Dr Loes Veldpaus, and Iain Watson OBE DL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Volunteers have been central to the project, contributing more than 1,500 hours to archival research, gravestone recording, site work, events, photography, transcription, family-history research, and public engagement. More people have contributed than we can name individually, and every contribution has helped to advance the work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We offer particular thanks to Pat Craighead, Denise Dixon, Mike Greatbatch, Barbara Phillips-Kerr, Lynn Taylor, and Gary Taylorson<\/strong><\/strong> for the exceptional amount of time, care, knowledge, and sustained commitment they have given to the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A growing number of people are discovering personal connections with individuals and families buried at Ballast Hills. Some are descendants, while others have found links through family history, local history, shared occupations, places, faith communities, or stories uncovered through the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People have contributed family research, photographs, documents, memories, and information that are not always preserved in official records. These personal connections help to restore individuality to people who were once known only through names, dates, inscriptions, or burial entries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The project welcomes contact from anyone who may have a connection with a person buried at Ballast Hills or who can add to what is known about their life. These contributions are helping to build a richer, more human account of the burial ground and the communities associated with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paid Students:<\/em><\/strong> Felix Arkle, Charlotte Brown, Jenny Cooke, Rebeka Erdenlyiova, Laureen Florendine, Isabel Hall, Molly Haywood, Stephanie Lyttle, Emma Morgan, Omkar Nanjundaswamy, Taylan Paksoy, Ashleigh Regan, and Dovydas Vilkevi\u010dius.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Student Volunteers: <\/em><\/strong>Emma Agatston, Ilka Bader, Lisa Errington, Rachel Hards, Sinan Ihtiyaroglu, Eve Jackson, Elizabeth Joyce, Eda Seyok, and Lily Stone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Organisations have contributed specialist advice, collections access, research and technical support, venues, practical assistance, community connections, and opportunities for public engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Newcastle City Council: Planning<\/a>:<\/strong> Site ownership, planning, conservation, management, and future stewardship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Friends of Ballast Hills Burial Ground<\/strong>: Community stewardship, advocacy, interpretation, volunteering, and support for the burial ground\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ouseburn Trust<\/a><\/strong>: Local knowledge, community engagement, volunteering, Green Days, events, project development, and practical support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Newcastle City Library: History and Heritage<\/a><\/strong>: Research resources, exhibitions, talks, events, and access to local and family history collections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n North East Museums<\/a><\/strong> (Tyne & Wear Archives<\/a><\/strong>): Access to burial registers, committee records, inscription books, plans, photographs, and related archives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n North East Museums<\/a><\/strong> (Great North Museum: Hancock<\/a><\/strong>): Family learning and public-engagement activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Newcastle University:<\/strong> The institutional home of the project, providing academic, administrative, technical, funding, student, and engagement support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences: <\/strong>The project\u2019s academic and administrative base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Newcastle University Research Software Engineering<\/a>: <\/strong>Technical support for the Life Register website proof of concept.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Historic England<\/a>: <\/strong>Advice on heritage significance, conservation, designation, and research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wild Intrigue<\/a><\/strong>: Ecological expertise and support for understanding the burial ground as an urban green space and habitat.<\/p>\n\n\n\nKey Contributors and Advisers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
AHRC Curiosity Award Project Team<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Dr Alex Turner, geophysics technical lead<\/p>\n\n\n\nSpecialist Contributors<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Dr Kris Poole, contributor to the site management and conservation recommendations<\/p>\n\n\n\nAdvisers and Contributors<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Volunteers <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Descendants, Family Historians, and Personal Connections<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Students<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Organisational Partners and Supporters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Site ownership and and local stewardship<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Archives, libraries, and museums<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Newcastle University <\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Heritage, environmental and Specialist Expertise<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
Creative and interpretive partners<\/h5>\n\n\n\n