Tag: Heritage Open Days

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.

 

The Cemetery Burial Records

by Pete Lowdenin General, News, Talks, Volunteers3 Comments on The Cemetery Burial Records

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.

Hull Cemetery Burial record 1860

 

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.

News

by Pete Lowdenin Events, General, News

Here is an update to the news from last month.

Firstly an apology. I wonder how many times I’ve started this item with that phrase. Answers on a postcard please.

Anyway, due to a mix-up, I will not be giving talks on Hull General Cemetery for this year’s Heritage Open Days. I would also like to state that the mix-up was not my fault.

Suffice to say that I noticed that the talks were not in the brochure. I pointed this out and after much apologising by the organisers I was asked if I still wanted to give the talks although they were not in the brochure

I decided not to as it would be confusing to people. The talks will take place next year. To be quite frank I have too much on and not giving these talks was a boon. News

Wrecking Ball, Whitefriargate

I will be giving a talk on the Spanish Flu in Hull 1918-19 on Wednesday, September 15th.

The venue is now The Wrecking Ball. I’m informed that it has no disabled access sadly. I’m also unaware of any booking facility nor how many the people the venue can hold. Many of the regular venues that are usually used for HODS have been found wanting in some way or another. Hopefully by next year those issues should be resolved.

To be able to hold a HODS this year has been an arduous process undertaken, at least in Hull, by just two people. John Netherwood and his wife Christine.

After last year’s events had to be cancelled, and with the uncertainty this year, I think we are lucky that it is going ahead.

Taken from Punch - A recent picture of a family enjoying hgc

Guided Walks

I will also be taking guided walks around Hull General Cemetery. These will take place on Saturday the 11th and the 18th. Both walks will meet at Princes Avenue corner.

The first walk begins at 11.00 a.m. whilst the second walk will begin at 1.30.

Stout footwear is recommended and each walk takes roughly two hours.

I’m hopefully to be accompanied by another of the FOHGC volunteers, Helen Bovill, who will point out the environmental aspects of the site.

I know there’ll be more news later, especially about the work in the Quaker’s site. However that will be written up later.

Thanks

http://www. hullandbeverleyheritagestore.co.uk

Next Month

by Pete Lowdenin Events, General, History, News1 Comment on Next Month

I hope you like the items this month.

Next month I’m going to include the Facebook article where two volunteers of the FOHGC attempted to retrace the steps of John Symons as he walked around the cemetery in the 1880s. A brave challenge and an extremely twisty route too as they found. I hope you enjoy it.

There’ll be another article by Bill Longbone from his posts on the FB site. Helen Bovill will be showing us the delights of nature in August. You know, all the things that we, mere mortals, totally miss. Yet she seems to just pick these tiny objects out from the wilderness that surrounds her.

Heritage Open Days

Owing to shortage of time I may not be able to contribute much next month as Heritage Open Days will be upon soon. The second week of September will be filled with opportunities for you all to quench your heritage thirst.

Hull General Cemetery features heavily. Two guided walks will take place. These will be led by myself, hopefully accompanied, by Helen Bovill.

There will be three talks on the subject. These will take place, Pandemic willing, at the Ferens Art Gallery. They are all entitled, ‘A Virtual Walk Through Hull General Cemetery (Without Getting Your Shoes Muddy)’.

In essence, these talks will take you through the Cemetery by PowerPoint. Not as good as the real thing I know but, on the plus side, no muddy shoes either. Here are the dates I have been given. They are Part 1, Sunday, 12th September at 3.00 p.m., part 2, is on Thursday, the 16th at 1.30 p.m. the final section, Part 3, is Friday, the 17th at 3.00 p.m. All at the Ferens. I hope to see some of you there.

Incidentally, I’m giving another talk during that week, and Hull General Cemetery features in a small way. The Spanish Flu in Hull 1918 is the title of the talk. Its also at the Ferens. Not sure of the date / time for that one. Sorry. The HODS brochure will be published soon.

See you next month.