Sheffield General Cemetery Trust

Sheffield General Cemetery Trust logo

Sheffield General Cemetery is a wonderful Victorian park where history and heritage (with impressive buildings and monuments) meets conservation and...

Cemetery History Tour Support Volunteer

This opportunity is ongoing, with no end date.

To provide support to the History Tour Leader during a History Tour.

Sheffield General Cemetery used to be a pretty grim place where none but the brave would enter. Through the work of volunteers over the last thirty years, the Cemetery has become a wonderful park that the Victorians planned but never saw. They planted a vast range of interesting trees which are now mature and attract an abundance of wildlife. The General Cemetery is a richly historic site with very impressive buildings and monuments. The Victorians certainly knew how to put on a good show. There is even an Egyptian Gate that Cleopatra might have approved of.

Our aim is to encourage everyone to enjoy this historical site by walking its paths, learning its history or simply as a quiet place to sit and contemplate. Sheffield General Cemetery Trust is a registered charity (no. 1103158) dedicated to promoting and restoring the General Cemetery (located in the city of Sheffield UK) and to protecting it as a unique heritage site and haven for wildlife.

Our History Tours are held monthly, normally on the first Sunday, and each tour has around 15 people in attendance. We want tour support volunteers to walk at the back of the tour, keeping attendees together and help to deal with any possible hazards eg fast approaching cyclist, running dogs (or even children). You will learn more about the history of the cemetery as well as how to keep people engaged on a tour. 

Commitment is not huge - 2-3 hours on a Sunday, once a month

Overview of Project

Sheffield General Cemetery opened in 1836 Sheffield General Cemetery opened in 1836 ‘at some distance in the countryside’ in a ‘remote and undisturbed’ location. It became established as the principal burial ground in Victorian Sheffield containing the graves of 87,000 people. The site today is a Grade II* listed park which is the highest listed in Sheffield, and one of only four in South Yorkshire. It is a Conservation Area, Local Nature Reserve and Area of Natural History Interest. One of the earliest commercial cemeteries in Britain, it contains the largest collection of listed buildings and monuments in Sheffield, ten in total including Grade II listed catacombs, an Anglican Chapel, with the Gatehouse, Nonconformist Chapel and the Egyptian Gateway, each listed at Grade II*. There is the largest single grave plot in the country – a common grave in which 85 bodies were interred. It is also home to many important figures in Sheffield history such as Mark Firth, the steel manufacturer, and Samuel Holberry, the Chartist. The Friends of the General Cemetery (FOGC) was formed in 1989 by a handful of local residents. Since then this voluntary organisation has grown in size and the Friends has now become the Sheffield General Cemetery Trust (SGCT). The Trust carries out many activities within the Cemetery: Education tours and workshops Conservation work to maintain and enhance the monuments, the landscape and the paths Historical research of the Cemetery and its occupants. Restoring the Grade II* listed Nonconformist Chapel. Developing and managing The Samuel Worth Chapel as a new events venue.

This Role Involves

Supporting the tour leader by ensuring: The attendees keep together Watching out for potential hazard Make sure that the tour leaders voice is heard at the back!

Location

Sheffield General Cemetery, Cemetery Avenue, Sheffield, S11 8NT

Skills/Experience Required

This role involves a "walking tour" - a level of fitness and mobility is required Confidence to ask attendees to keep up and to chat with people Interest in History and Heritage is not necessarily needed but an interest in people getting the best tour experience is!

Benefits to Others

This role ensures the safety of our tour attendees and allows the tour leader to concentrate on the tour.

Benefits to the Volunteer

Increase confidence Develop and learn new skills (as well as utilising your existing skills) Join a friendly, enthusiastic and supportive team – get to know new people Enjoyment and fun + free tea or coffee Experience of working with a heritage and conservation charity Being part of a local organisation Learn more about the history of Sheffield General Cemetery

Role Duration

Ongoing role

Time Commitment (hours Per week/month/year, etc)

2-3 hours monthly on a Sunday

Training Information

Induction First Aid Training if necessary

Expenses Information

Out of pocket travel expenses can be claimed.

DBS required?

No
  • Academic Course RelevanceEvents Management, Research
  • Area of InterestCulture, Events, Outdoors
  • Roles suitable for Hallam StaffThis role is suitable for Hallam Staff

Employability skills

  • Assertiveness 0
  • Event Management 0
  • Initiative 0
  • Meeting Skills 0
  • People Skills 0