THIS SITE HAS LIMITED INFORMATION AT PRESENT AS IT IS CURRENTLY UNDER RECONSTRUCTION.  MANY THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE UNTIL THE WORK IS COMPLETE. 

Welcome to the website for Houghton Hillside Cemetery.  Hillside is a cemetery located on the outskirts of Houghton Le Spring and the recently restored Lych Gate can be seen when driving along Houghton Cut on the A690 towards Sunderland.  It is in actual fact not a cemetery but a detached burial ground for St Michaels and All Angels Church however it is more often than not referred to as ’the old cemetery’ 

It was consecrated in 1854 by Rector John Grey after a lot of controversy as the site was initially a quarry.

There had been an outbreak of Cholera in Houghton Le Spring and as the churchyard was full another site had to be found.  Eventually after a lot of debating the Hillside site was consecrated.

Initially the main entrance to the site was through Hillside Farm next door but in 1873 the Lych Gate was built and this became the entrance.  The Lych Gate was damaged due to a road traffic accident in the 1960's, however the Lych Gate and surrounding railings were restored in 2006/7.

Although the site was a split level site, Hillside soon started to fill up and it was found necessary to have an extension which was opened in 1894.  This also coincided with the opening of the Municipal Cemetery on Durham Road in Houghton Le Spring but as the municipal did not at the time have a consecrated area the authorities were forced to extend Hillside.  There were about 7000 burials took place at Hillside.

The last burial took place at Hillside in the 1970’s.  Also when the A690 was built through Houghton Cut in the 1960’s the cemetery  was forgotten about. Sunderland Street where the cemetery is located became a dead end due to the recently built dual carriageway.  Hillside quickly became overgrown and a haven for wildlife.  During the building of the A690 the headstones on the plateau area of the site were bulldozed and plateau levelled.  The stones are supposedly buried in the top left hand corner of the site.  There are over 7000 people buried at Hillside including Rector Grey and Thomas Usherwood Robinson.  Thomas Usherwood Robinson being the main objector in the controversy!

In December 2003 following a public meeting the Friends of Houghton Hillside Cemetery was formed and since the formation of the group the site is starting to return to its former glory.

So far the group have carried out substantial conservation works within the site and also secured funds which saw the restoration of the Lych Gate and Railings at the entrance.  They have also held their own fund raising events.

Within this site we do hope you will enjoy reading about the history of Hillside and also the works carried out by the Friends and also the intended work to be carried out.