Stories near your feet in Reading Old Cemetery
An Online Talk by Prof. Yota Dimitriadi
In 1842, the newly-formed Reading Cemetery Company purchased land in what was then Sonning, just beyond the eastern boundary of Reading, to create the Reading Cemetery. It was a much needed resource, as the town’s churchyards had been overflowing for some time. The first burial took place the following year.
Nowadays, as you wander through the peaceful paths of Reading Old Cemetery, have you ever wondered about the lives of those buried there? From grand Victorian monuments to forgotten, unmarked graves, each plot holds a story, some well-known, others only recently uncovered.
The ROCuP (Reading Old Cemetery Undertaking Project) is a collaboration between the Institute of Education, University of Reading, the Reading Old Cemetery History, Heritage and Education group, and dedicated volunteers who have contributed their time and family histories. Together, they have pieced together aspects of the town’s rich social history, using the cemetery as a lens to explore themes of identity, memory, bereavement, and education.
2 - 3.15pm
This is an online talk using Zoom technology. Pre-booking is required, because the event link will be sent in advance.
Image: Irid Escent, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
About Berkshire Family History Society
This talk is organised by Berkshire Family History Society CIO, a registered charity number 1204390.
