Ancient Burial Ground Under Investigation

An 18th-century burial ground, thought to contain the remains of 40,000 individuals, is currently under investigation. Archaeological assessments are underway at the Ballast Hills Burial Ground, located in Newcastle’s inner-city Ouseburn Valley, with the aim of ascertaining its dimensions. The project also seeks to establish the precise limits of the original cemetery, which features a headstone from 1708. Dr. Myra Giesen from Newcastle University, who leads the project, expressed her expectation that understanding the site’s history would contribute to its future development. Dr. Giesen noted that the location holds a greater number of buried individuals than all of Newcastle’s churchyards collectively, recording an average of 599 burials each year between 1820 and 1825. Among those interred at the site are individuals who did not adhere to the Church of England, victims of drowning in the River Tyne, impoverished residents, and stillborn infants. Despite estimates suggesting it serves as the final resting place for thousands, only 900 headstones have been discovered. The property is under the ownership of Newcastle City Council and falls within the protected Lower Ouseburn Valley Conservation Area. Dr. Giesen stated: “We don’t know exactly how far the boundaries go.” She added: “Understanding the boundaries helps us inform how significant the site was. There are no non-conformist burial grounds this large, this far north.” Following the conclusion of the fieldwork, volunteers will assist in compiling a detailed record of the inscriptions on the headstones. Some of these headstones were repurposed as paving for a pathway when the area was converted into a playground in 1930, and they are currently in a deteriorated state. Dr. Giesen emphasized the significance of providing descendants of those interred with the opportunity to discover more about their forebears. For updates, follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. This article is Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites and provides information on its approach to external linking.