St John’s Cemetery and Westgate Hill Cemetery, in Elswick, will benefit from the project, which seeks to engage local people in ways to improve them. Newcastle City Council will continue its partnership work with the Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust to deliver the project
The Grade II registered cemeteries, which date back to the 1800s, are now in need of major restoration after suffering years of deterioration and anti-social behaviour.
The project will work with local community groups to explore how the sites could be reused in the future, supported by creative engagement specialists. Survey work will be carried out by specialist consultants to better understand the importance of the cemeteries, and the condition of the buildings at St John’s.
This phase of the project will shape the plans for the larger project to restore the cemeteries and remove them from the national Heritage at Risk register, for which further funding will be sought later.
Deputy leader of the council and Cabinet member for Neighbourhood Services, Cllr Alex Hay, said: “Generations of people have been lain to rest in these cemeteries, so they play an important role in our communities.
“Due to years of funding pressures, they have deteriorated which is terribly sad, but we hope this funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will help to reverse that decline and start the necessary work towards securing their long-term future.
“Empowering local people to get involved in this project will better inform the work that needs to be done in the cemeteries, and I hope as many people as possible do get involved,” added Cllr Hay who has responsibility for registrars, crematoria, and cemeteries.
Kari Vickers, deputy manager of the Tyne & Wear Buildings Preservation Trust, said: “Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust are engaging with local communities to explore the potential of these sites.
“Working together with Creative Practitioners, using themes of art, nature and heritage, to discover tales of those visiting, buried in and connected to these cemeteries.
“Watch out for opportunities to get involved and help make this project successful. Go to twbpt.org.uk & storiesofthestones.com"
Helen Featherstone, Director of England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It is great news that Newcastle City Council will develop proposals for these important sites.
“Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, and what better way to do that than to ensure that local communities are at the heart of formulating plans for this fantastic restoration project.”
A comprehensive programme of events and initiatives will be worked up to get local people and organisations involved with more information to follow in due course.
Information about The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Their vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage they are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. They believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Over the next 10 years, they aim to invest £3.6 billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
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