Welcome

The Cemetery Research Group (CRG) was established at the University of York in 1990, when a consortium of interdisciplinary academics successfully applied for Economic and Social Research Funding for research on local authorities and cemetery conservation. Since that time, research on cemeteries has continued at the University principally by Julie Rugg, who was appointed by the CRG in 1991 and continues cemetery work under the aegis of the Centre for Housing Policy. Funding for cemetery research has been raised from the Economic and Social Research Council, local authorities throughout the UK and the Confederation of Burial Authorities. The work of the CRG is informed by an understanding of international and UK cemetery history from around 1740 to the present. Research and publications also benefit from strong links with the cemetery management profession. Julie Rugg was one of the two principal advisors to the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Committee, in its inquiry into cemeteries conducted in 2000-01; sits on the Ministry of Justice Burial and Cemeteries Advisory Group and Re-Use Sub-Group; and in 2008 was elected to the position of Honorary Vice President of the Institute of Cemetery and Crematorium Management.

The principal aim of the CRG is to expand an understanding of current and past burial culture in the modern period in the UK, by studying the ways in which social, emotional and religious concerns have interacted with economic and political imperatives to frame burial practice.

This website has been designed to provide an introduction to cemeteries in the UK, and also to point towards other useful sources for this subject. The following pages are available:

Context provides basic background material on cemeteries and answers some of the frequently asked questions on this topic

Research and activities summarises principal research findings and other activities.

Publications lists outputs from an ongoing programme of regular publication, including book chapters and academic journal articles

Bibliography gives a select list of other useful and readily accessible texts on cemeteries

Colloquium the CRG hosts an annual colloquium for new research on cemeteries and other burial spaces: these pages provide abstracts for papers given at past colloquia. CALL FOR PAPERS 2012

Links provides links to other useful websites

Events details forthcoming seminars and conferences of interest to anyone studying cemeteries and burial.