Some of you may remember that, as part of the rehabilitation of Hull General Cemetery, some research and administrative tasks were to be carried out. It was hoped that when these tasks were completed it would help to raise the profile of the site.
One of those tasks was to transcribe the Cemetery burial records onto an Excel spreadsheet. This would then be placed onto this site so that people could search for their relatives or use it for research for other purposes. We were also going to share this database with the Carnegie Heritage Centre, the East Yorkshire Family History Society and also the Hull History Centre.
https://www.carnegiehull.co.uk/
https://www.eyfhs.org.uk/
https://www.hullhistorycentre.org.uk/home.aspx
Still our aim
That is still our aim. You’ll be glad to know that this exercise is reaching the final stages. It’s about 80% complete. We would like to have it completed by the Heritage Open Days in September this year. Perhaps even have a ‘Grand Opening’ of it at a venue yet to be decided upon.
However, to make that date we would like to ask you to join us in finalising this project.
You will need your own computer and access to the internet. The actual work involved is light but it does need patience and attention to detail.
This project will be invaluable to the City of Hull as well as the professional researcher and the person who just wants to find their ancestor’s grave.
Here’s an example of a burial record so you can see what the job entails. Its from July 1860. As you can see the social history is apparent from the first entry. Rebecca Day dying of fever in Hull Borough Asylum. This building, the last remains of it having been demolished within the last two years, was set at the back of the present HRI. Just think how much more you could find out.
If you want to be part of this project then please contact the FOHGC. We’ll guide you through it and help where its needed.
Hold the front page!
Sorry, I’ve always wanted to write that and this is the closest I can get to it.
I just thought I’d let you know that I will be giving a talk at the Hull Central Library on Saturday, 19th February. The talk may probably be the last time I’ll be doing The Rise and Fall of Hull General Cemetery.
The talk takes place in the old Local Studies Library, known as the James Reckitt room. It starts at 11.00 a.m. and I think there is a charge of £1.
Hope to see you there.
Pete Lowden is a member of the Friends of Hull General Cemetery committee which is committed to reclaiming the cemetery and returning it back to a community resource.