Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight. Documenting their lives, businesses and burial transcriptions.
RYDE SOCIAL HERITAGE GROUP
Based at Ryde Cemetery Heritage & Learning Centre. Preserving, documenting and promoting the social history of Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
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Following Ryde’s successful application to Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone fund (HSHAZ),
the programme is now underway. Find out how RSHG are involved in this cultural heritage project, under ‘ LATEST NEWS’

Although we cannot admit the public at the moment, we are at the centre on Tuesdays 10am-1pm
If you would like any information from our archives, we can look it up for you, which you could collect by appointment.
This includes any Grave enquiries or viewings.

We are sorry to say, that due to Covid 19 social distancing rules,
RSHG will not be holding a Remembrance Service in the Cemetery Chapel this year.

Looking back...

Interesting things that happened in Ryde in the past

Oct 1970 - 50 Years Ago
Oct 1920 - 100 Years Ago
Oct 1870 - 150 Years Ago
View all articles

Welcome to the Ryde Social Heritage Group Website

Ryde Social Heritage Group research the social history of the citizens of Ryde, Isle of Wight

RSHG was formed by a small group of friends in 2002 and became a formally constituted group in 2005. RSHG exists to research, document and share information about the history of Ryde, Isle of Wight, UK, including the development of the town, the people, their lives and deaths, businesses and entertainments.

Since 2002 we have been recording information from Ryde Cemetery producing maps and recording inscriptions and we search through archives to find biographical information relating to the people buried there. We are also researching about the people, businesses, development and significant events that happened in Ryde.  We collect documents, information and artefacts relating to Ryde and have a growing archive which we make available to the public at Open Days and exhibitions.  We produce books and leaflets, hold exhibitions and give guided walks and presentations to help people understand the rich history and the significance of our town.

Next Event


RYDE HERITAGE AUDIO TRAIL
While waiting for our next event to be announced why not take a look at (and listen to) our Ryde Heritage Audio Trail?
View all events
Other items
Ryde Cabmen’s Shelter
In 1876 a number of benevolent Christians of Ryde endeavoured to do something to remedy the condition of the cabmen. 
Season Entertainment
In the 19th century the people of Ryde went to great lengths to provide entertainment during the season for the inhabitants and the elite who came to the Island.

View all other items.
The grave database was last updated:
29 / 10 / 2020
Click here to view the latest grave information for Mrs Caroline Hounsell
Latest News
High Street Heritage Action Zone
Following Ryde’s successful application to Historic England’s High Street Heritage Action Zone fund (HSHAZ), the programme is now beginning to get underway.
Campaigners call for restoration of plaques
Our support to a campaign to restore the plaques in the memorial gardens on the corner of The Strand and East Hill Road. 
September 2020 Biographical Details Added
In September, our busy research team added 42 biographical records to names on the website, including that of Mr Alfred Edwin Macleod-Carey, manager of the National Telephone Co.

View all the news.
Photo of the Month
Ryde Architecture
It was built in 1870/71 for William Edgar Ratcliffe on a field which had been part of Stonepitts farm land.  The house was originally named Ellington. 

View all photos of the month.
Features & Stories
Vagrancy
He was an old hand about Ryde, the police had repeatedly threatened to lock him up and he could speak English well.

View all features & stories.

Database of Graves and Names

The Graves Section is by far the largest section of the website: the database currently holds over 23,000 records, from Ryde, Ashey, Binstead, St John’s, St Thomas’ and Holy Cross cemeteries. The website is updated on a regular basis.  You can search for an individual by typing the surname into the search box in the top right hand corner of this page or you can go to our Graves search page for more advanced search features. If we have any more information about a person we have attached files to the relevant record. Scroll down to the bottom of any record to see more information and/or photographs.

Cemetery Maps

The website also contains information to help you locate a grave in Ryde Cemeteries.  Each record gives a RSHG map number and grid reference.  If you go to the map page you can print off a copy of the relevant map or maps.  You can also look up the name of a person in the Alphabetical Indexes, the indexes contain all the names that are on the maps whether the Transcribing Group has been able to read them or not.  Some graves cannot be read because they are too eroded, have no markers or are too overgrown, so if you can’t find who you are looking for by using our Search features it’s worth checking the indexes. Further details of how to do this can be found on the Map page. The map and index files may take a few minutes to download, depending on the speed of your connection.

History of Ryde and Ryde Cemeteries (IW, UK)

The section on History is sub-divided into the history of the town of Ryde Isle of Wight, and each Church and Cemetery.

Nature

The section on Nature provides details of the flora and fauna found in Ryde Cemetery as this is also part of the heritage of the Cemetery grounds.

Photo Galleries

The Gallery section has photographs on People, Nature, Ryde Town, The Cemetery, and Ryde Social Heritage Group (RSHG) Activities.  An enlarged view of all the thumbnail images on this website can be obtained by double clicking on any thumbnail picture.

About Ryde Social Heritage Group

The About Us Section contains details about Ryde Social Heritage Group (RSHG) and lists Committee members, how to join the group and RSHG magazine Beyond the Graves.

More Features:

Each month, the front page has a Featured Stories, and a dated list of News items. Also an Other Items section, which are random photographs and articles of interest. The stories on these three pages are archived so that you can always read any you have missed.  There is also a photo of the month.

Talk to us

Please let us know what you think of this web site. We value your opinions.

..or come and find us!

Click here for Ryde Cemetery’s Location on Google Maps