About
Tyne & Wear Buildings Preservation Trust
Elswick cemeteries project
Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust, established in 1979, restores buildings of heritage value and brings them back into use. Significant buildings in the region have been saved by the Trust, such as Newcastle’s, Alderman Fenwick’s House on Pilgrim Street and on the Quayside, 28/30 The Close (now House of Tides Restaurant); The Old Low Light on North Shields Fish Quay, and in South Shields, St Hilda’s Pit Head.
What we do
The Trust works closely with local authorities using a phased approach to identify buildings in need, revise ownership, explore re-use, find partners/new tenants, source suitable funds, carry out physical works required, then settle in new tenants. This can take time, sometimes years, even decades! Historic building restorations are not without challenges, but can turn buildings that may have appeared to be beyond repair into useable, unique and very special spaces to be enjoyed for many more years.
St John’s and Westgate Hill Cemeteries in Elswick, Newcastle have been on the Trusts radar for some time. Registered Grade II in recognition of their architectural and historic importance, these Victorian burial grounds are currently on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register, due to being in poor repair and prone to anti-social behaviour. Past attempts to develop a project haven’t worked out, often with other sites taking priority. However, in 2023, the timing was right to match some funds from Historic England & Newcastle City Council together to kick start a community engagement project.
As well as places for burial and remembrance, cemeteries can play a valuable role as green spaces, particularly in urban areas where many people do not have access to a garden or local park. Victorian cemeteries like St Johns and Westgate Hill are similar in design to public parks from the same period and can provide many of the same mental and physical health benefits, as well as providing a haven for wildlife.
Cemeteries also provide an important record of the social history of the area with each cemetery offering a biography of its community. The West End of Newcastle is ethnically diverse, which is reflected in the many cultures, nationalities and religions of the people buried in St Johns and Westgate Hill.
During 2023-24, in collaboration with the local community and the Council, Tyne and Wear Building Preservation Trust ran an 18 month pilot project that engaged creative practitioners to work alongside local people to research and create using the themes of nature, arts and heritage, exploring ways to make the sites welcoming and thriving community spaces, while collecting information needed for funding bids for future works and restoration.
A successful bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund continues this work until April 2026, investigating the potential to repurpose the cemetery buildings and discovering more fascinating cemetery stories with local links.
For more information about the project and how to get involved, please contact Kari Vickers
Want to be involved?
Drop us a message to see how you can help.