Day: September 25, 2022

Heritage Open Days

by Pete Lowdenin Events, News, Volunteers, Walks2 Comments on Heritage Open Days

First, the good news

Another year over. At least in terms of Heritage Open Days and Hull General Cemetery. It was its usual success. Approximately 50 people turned up over the two Saturdays which is a very good response. It’s down on last year when it was over 100 but I think that year was partly a response to lockdowns and people wanting to get out into the fresh air. We were also blessed with good weather for the last two years which is always a bonus on an outdoor gig.

It is still the most popular of guided walks. Indeed I have been told that it is the most popular attraction of the entire HODS week. That’s pretty cool for a derelict cemetery. The initial aim of the Friends was always to raise the profile of the site and I think that we may have achieved this to some extent.

However the other major aim, such as returning it to a viable, well maintained community resource, is still ongoing. It will probably need a lot more effort from the Council and the wider community to assist the Friends to achieve that goal. Let’s just say it’s a work in progress.

And now the bad

As for Heritage Open Days I’m afraid that is it for the time being for guided walks around the site. I’m taking a year out as I have a lot of other projects which desperately need work on. So I have taken the decision not to undertake any guided walks next year for the Heritage Open Days. This includes the Western Cemetery one too. I will probably come back in 2024 but right now 2023 is earmarked for other things.

Having said that, I don’t have the monopoly on giving the guided walks. I’m quite happy for that mantle to be passed on to others. Permanently if they like the job. So, if you are up to giving it a go, feel free to contact me and I’ll give you as much help as I can.

 

A New Book

by Pete Lowdenin Books, General, History

There’s a new book. It’s called The Life of Hull General Cemetery Lodge and Other Stories.

The book covers the story of how the Cemetery Lodge, the jewel in the crown for the cemetery, was created but also the sad story of its loss to the forces of ‘progress’ in the 20th century. This building, the first commission of the noted Hull architect, Cuthbert Brodrick, was a creation in the Victorian Gothic mode. Its fairy tale castle effect was a highlight of the town. Yet within a a lifetime it was swept away.

Other stories in the book cover the struggle to create the Cemetery; the story of how the destruction of most of the headstones during the development of the cemetery in the 1970s took place and finally, a revisiting of a celebrated walk around the Cemetery by John Symons in the 1880s.

It’s available at Amazon and is priced at £10 post free.

The other books in this series are also still available from Amazon. These are a Short History of Hull General Cemetery, priced at £7. The War Dead of the Cemetery, priced at £10. Public Graves, Workhouse Graves, Catacombs and Crosses, priced at £7 and finally A Short History of Burial in Kingston Upon Hull from the Medieval Period to the Late Victorian Period. This is also priced at £7.

With the nights drawing in, what better way to spend them by reading  about cemeteries and death. Go on, treat yourself for Halloween. At the worst you can always burn them to keep warm.

The other books