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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RSHG Activities at Ryde Cemetery Resource Centre are Suspended due to the current crisis
They will be resumed when safe to do so.  Watch this space for future information

WE ARE ADDING NEW ARTICLES MORE FREQUENTLY FOR YOUR INTEREST
SO WATCH THIS WEBSITE TO SEE WHAT CHANGES

 

 

Looking back...

Interesting things that happened in Ryde in the past

May 1970 - 50 Years Ago
May 1920 - 100 Years Ago
May 1870 - 150 Years Ago
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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 Dispensary
The dispensary in Ryde was started in 1842 and was ultimately housed at the junction of West Street and Swanmore Road.
Travel to and fro
Early twentieth century photos showing vehicles mode of crossing the Solent.

View all other items.
The grave database was last updated:
23 / 05 / 2020
Click here to view the latest grave information for Mrs Frances Blanche Mary Ann (Fanny) Lightfoot
Latest News
April 2020 Biographical Details added
In April, our busy research team added 51 biographical records to names on the website, including that of Mr Alfred Ernest Thompson, a  skilful horticulturist.
FUN QUIZ
This easy fun quiz is about Ryde and surrounds. The answers can be found on the RSHG website. Go on give it a try!
March/April 2020 Biographical Details added
During March and April, our busy research team added 42 biographical records to names on the website, including that of Mrs Patty Walford who was the sister of Rear Admiral Sir Edward Berry, 1st Baronet.

View all the news.
Photo of the Month
Ryde Architecture
On the 10th October 1837 William Buckler Astley obtained a lease for 99 years on three lives, for a plot of ground by the shore and in the following year built St. George’s Field Villa.

View all photos of the month.
Features & Stories
Mrs Mackenzie of Beachlands
The end of the1820s and beginning of 1830s saw the development of a huge project to lay out a Ryde Esplanade and included the building of large residential properties where previously there had been sand dunes, the area known as ‘The Duver.’

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