Death and Community in Rural Settlements: Changing Burial Culture in Small Towns and Villages, c. 1850-2007

Lead Research Organisation: University of York
Department Name: Centre for Housing Policy

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
 
Description There are three substantive measures of impact. First, the research will influence the ways in which burial culture in the UK in the historic period is understood. There are close links between the PI and relevant practitioner organisations, which means that - second - the findings will feed into the ways in which burial space is evaluated for conservation purposes. In 2014, the PI published 'Cemeteries, churchyards and burial grounds: devising and applying a significance framework'. This research, undertaken for Historic England, drew on findings from the rural study to help frame a new chronology categorizing burial space in the modern period. Third, this research has an impact on current cemetery management practices, and has already helped to frame changes in management guidance notes.
First Year Of Impact 2013
Sector Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections
Impact Types Cultural
 
Description A three page summary of how to research the social history of local churchyards has been added to the handbook of 'Caring for God's Acre'
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Influenced training of practitioners or researchers
 
Description Ecclesiastical Law Society Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact An invited paper to a conference of the Ecclesiastical Law Society, reflecting on an understanding of use of churchyard space gleaned through the ESRC project.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
 
Description Inclusion in Radio 4 documentary 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Interview was included in a short documentary for Radio 4, 'How to dig a grave', aired on the 8th October 2014.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Talk: Victorian burial (Cemetery Friends) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation to National Federation of Cemetery Friends, sharing results of research on the history of burial.

Friends were encouraged to review their interpretation of cemeteries to include more information on the history of cemeteries themselves.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Talk: Victorian burial (Selby Local History) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Local
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Local history society was engaged in extended debate on researching change in local burial practices.

Extended public engagement with local history.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Talk: Victorian burial (York Local History) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact This extended lecture detailed principal findings from research on rural burial. The talk provoked a great deal of discussion about researching local burial practice.

Family and Local History members expressed a great deal of interest in the project, and in researching this aspect of local history.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013