Category: NEFHG Event

Celebrating the Launch of the North East Funerary Heritage Group

On Wednesday, 23 July 2025, the North East Funerary Heritage Group (NEFHG) held its inaugural launch event in the beautiful Nave of Newcastle Cathedral. With roughly 27 participants in attendance, the afternoon brought together researchers, heritage professionals, community group members, and volunteers from across the region to explore what funerary heritage means in the North East and how we can work together to support it.

The event opened with a welcome by Very Reverend Lee Batson, Dean of Newcastle, and an introduction by Dr Myra Giesen, Chair of the NEFHG Steering Committee. Myra offered a working definition of funerary heritage and introduced the group’s aims: to foster collaboration, raise awareness, and support the preservation and understanding of burial spaces and commemorative practices in the region.

A panel discussion followed, featuring contributions from:

  • Mark Manuel (Archaeology, Durham University)
  • Pete Bradshaw (Archives, County Durham Archives/The Story)
  • Gary Taylorson (Volunteer and Family Historian, Newcastle)
  • Don O’Meara (Heritage Oversight and Protection, Historic England)

Together, they reflected on sector-specific opportunities and challenges in funerary heritage, offering grounded insights from their respective areas of expertise.

Participants then rotated through three workshops:

Co-Creating NEFHG (led by Myra Giesen) – exploring what members want from the group and shaping its strategic direction.

Building a Common Language and Skills Base (led by Anna Walsh) – identifying shared terminology and skill needs.

Mapping NEFHG (led by Abby Hammond) – locating existing projects, burial spaces, and research activities in the region.

Tea, coffee, and conversation flowed during a networking break, before the group reconvened for a closing plenary. Facilitators shared highlights from the breakout sessions and outlined next steps.

    A number of exciting ideas emerged, including the creation of practical toolkits (e.g. on gravestone cleaning and family history research), a regional resource hub, and a regular programme of events to sustain engagement.

    This successful event was supported by the Ballast Hills Burial Ground project, which helped to sponsor and promote the launch as part of its wider commitment to inclusive heritage engagement.

    The NEFHG Steering Committee will now regroup to review the event outcomes and share suggested next steps with members in the coming weeks. Together, we can connect across disciplines, share skills and stories, and ensure the region’s funerary heritage continues to be recognised, researched, and respected.

    NEFHG Launch – Spotlight on Regional Funerary Heitage

    As we prepare for the formal launch of the North East Funerary Heritage Group (NEFHG) this Wednesday at Newcastle Cathedral, we’re thrilled to see growing interest in the initiative, highlighted in a recent piece by Cultured. North East: “Graveyard Preservation Network to Launch in Newcastle.” Read the article.

    The article captures the motivation behind NEFHG: to bring together a diverse network of individuals and organisations working to preserve, research, and engage with the region’s burial spaces and funerary heritage. Whether your interest is in social history, community archives, conservation, or contemporary engagement, NEFHG aims to support and connect your efforts.

    Our launch event on 23 July 2025 will introduce the group’s goals, share the draft governance and strategic framework, and open the floor to discussion about what our shared future could look like. Panel discussions and workshops will explore key opportunities and challenges, and there will be space for networking and collaboration.

    This is just the beginning. As the article notes, there’s a real appetite for coordination, practical support, and sharing of knowledge—from how to care for a gravestone to how to interpret burial landscapes. We hope NEFHG will become a hub for this kind of exchange.

    If you’re planning to attend the launch, we look forward to seeing you there. If you’re just learning about us now, please explore the website, become a member, and consider how you might like to be involved.

    Together, we can make funerary heritage more visible, valued, and better connected across the North East.

    NEFHG Launch Deadline Set for Friday, 18 July

    We’re excited to invite you to the official launch of the North East Funerary Heritage Group. The new regional initiative bringing together individuals and organisations interested in the past, present, and future of burial spaces and funerary heritage across the North East.

    This free event is open to researchers, heritage professionals, volunteers, and community members with an interest in anythin funerary heritage. The afternoon will include space for conversation, networking, and input into the group’s future direction, as well as a chance to explore shared concerns and emerging ideas.

    Whether you’re involved in research, community projects, conservation work, or simply passionate about funerary heritage, we’d love to see you there.

    Please register by 18 July to ensure your place and do share this invitation with others who might be interested.

    We look forward to seeing you at Newcastle Cathedral!

    📣 Register Now: NEFHG Launch Event – 23 July 2025 at Newcastle Cathedral

    We’re pleased to invite you to the official launch of the North East Funerary Heritage Group (NEFHG), taking place this summer in the heart of Newcastle:

    🗓 Wednesday, 23 July 2025
    🕐 13:00–16:00
    📍 Newcastle Cathedral (The Nave)
    👉 Register to attend here

    This event is open to all NEFHG members and anyone with an interest in the funerary heritage of County Durham, Tyne and Wear, or Northumberland—whether you’re a researcher, practitioner, local resident, or simply curious.

    The launch is not just a celebration, but a moment to reflect on where we’re starting and where we hope to go. With an informal and inclusive format, the afternoon will include:

    • A panel discussion on current challenges and opportunities in funerary heritage
    • Rotating breakout sessions to explore emerging themes and identify shared priorities
    • Time for networking and building collaborations

    Booking is required to help us plan for seating and light refreshments (tea and coffee will be provided).

    📢 Please help us spread the word! Feel free to share this post or the registration link with colleagues, collaborators, and anyone you think might be interested. The more perspectives we bring together, the stronger our network will become.

    For questions or accessibility needs, contact Dr Myra Giesen (Chair) at myra.giesen@newcastle.ac.uk.

    We look forward to seeing you in July!

    Event Sponsor: Ballast Hills Burial Ground Project

    Save the Date: NEFHG Launch Event at Newcastle Cathedral

    We are delighted to announce that the North East Funerary Heritage Group (NEFHG) will formally launch this summer. We hope you will join us to mark the occasion.

    🗓 Date: Wednesday, 23 July 2025
    🕐 Time: 13:00–16:00
    📍 Venue: Newcastle Cathedral (The Nave)

    What is NEFHG?

    NEFHG is a regional network dedicated to exploring, preserving, and promoting the rich funerary heritage of North East England. It fosters collaboration, shares best practices, and supports inclusive approaches to understanding and caring for burial spaces and memorial traditions. As it grows, NEFHG aims to serve as a hub for knowledge exchange, advocacy, and public engagement.

    The Launch

    This launch event will bring together individuals and organisations with a shared interest in funerary heritage—whether you’re involved in cemetery care, local history, cultural heritage, or simply want to learn more. It offers a welcoming space to connect, reflect, and help shape the group’s future direction.

    The afternoon will include:

    • A formal introduction to NEFHG and its vision
    • Short talks and a keynote or thematic panel
    • Breakout discussions on pressing issues and emerging opportunities
    • Time for networking, refreshments, and informal conversation

    A full agenda and registration details will be shared soon. We are looking into organising morning fieldtrips to several local site of funerary interest, so stay tuned for details.

    🔗In the meantime, you can register to become a member by complete our membership form. It is free to join.

    📬 Questions? Email: myra.giesen@newcastle.ac.uk

    Please mark your calendars and help us spread the word, feel free to forward this post to others who might be interested. We hope to see many of you there.

    This event is being partially sponsored by the Ballast Hills Burial Ground Project, which works to uncover and share the hidden histories of one of Newcastle’s forgotten  burial spaces.

    Warm wishes,
    Myra Giesen
    Chair, NEFHG Steering Group