CEMETERY LEARNING CENTRE TO BE OFFICIALLY OPENED

Ryde Cemetery

A new facility in Ryde Cemetery which has been set up in a restored building as part of the cemetery’s major restoration scheme will be opened on Thursday 9 September.

The Heritage Learning Centre will be officially launched at 1400 with guests from many organisations, including conservation groups and local schools. The centre will provide information displays, computers and a mapping index of burials within the cemetery.

It will also give opportunities for schools and visitors to research historical information about the cemetery and Ryde.

On Friday 10 and Saturday 11 September, activity days are being held at the Learning Centre. The events, which are hosted by IW Council’s Bereavement Services, will give guided tours of the cemetery, exhibitions, demonstrations and heritage activities. Among the organisations who will be there are Ryde Social Heritage Group, Friends of Ryde Cemetery and Dover Park Primary School.

Both days take place between 1000 – 1600.

Last year, restoration work on the 12 acre Ryde Cemetery site began which included restoring the old Mortuary Chapel and archway in West Street, two central chapels, re-building some of the boundary walls, restoring selected grave headstones and installing new railings and gates in Pellhurst Road.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) provided almost half a million pounds towards the project, which was supported by Isle of Wight Council, the Friends of Ryde Cemetery (FORC) and Ryde Social Heritage Group (RSHG) who provided historical information, mapping and volunteering.