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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RYDE CEMETERY WINS CONSERVATION AWARD FOR 2010

School group in Ryde Cemetery
School group in Ryde Cemetery

The IW Society gave the Conservation Award for 2010 to Ryde Cemetery at an evening event at Brading Roman Villa on Friday 15 April.

September 2010 saw the culmination of the Ryde Cemetery Restoration Project. The three chapels, railings and boundary walls, the bothy and toilet, roadway, gates and arches, and some of the significant graves had all been restored in the course of the project.

A Heritage and well resourced Learning Centre was created in the central chapels and these have been well used since the centre opened in September.

Sarah Burdett, chairman of the Isle of Wight Society, said “The buildings have been excellently conserved, the new railings and stone carving look splendid, and the cemetery is now a well used amenity green space within the centre of Ryde and is well worth a visit from anyone visiting the town.”

Ryde Social Heritage Group, along with Ryde Town Council and the Isle of Wight Council nominated Ryde Cemetery for the award and we were delighted to be present at Brading Roman Villa when the award, which up until that point had been a secret, was announced.

We would like to congratulate the IW Council’s Bereavement Services team and the Project Co-ordinator, Janis Mundell, for all their hard work in bringing the Restoration Project to a successful conclusion. Ryde now has a fantastic community facility.

School groups now regularly use the cemetery for educational purposes and there is a permanent exhibition in the centre. Visitor numbers to the cemetery are on the increase leaving many comments of praise and appreciation in the visitors’ book.

Ryde Social Heritage Group is very pleased to be able to support this worthwhile project.