Paper short abstract:

Historic cemeteries originally had one purpose but to ensure their survival, a number of historic cemeteries are now offering a diverse range of experiences for visitors. This paper will explore how this transition occurred; from a space with one defined purpose, to site of leisure and engagement.

Paper long abstract:

In the UK and Ireland, historic cemeteries are increasing joining the ranks of sites that people visit for leisure, entertainment and tourism. As traditional burial places many historic cemeteries have been neglected and abandoned as they fail economically. To ensure their survival a number of historic cemeteries are now offering a diverse range of experiences for visitors including tours, talks, film, theatre, dance, arts and crafts, exercise classes and exhibitions. Within academia these spaces are sometimes regarded as 'dark tourism or dark heritage' as they are places of the dead; although this may not be strictly accurate they are not places of death or tragedy.

As the tradition role of historic cemeteries changes in an attempt to revitalise these historic spaces through public engagement, this paper will explore how and why this transition is occurring from a space with one defined purpose, to site of entertainment. Is the presence of the human remains part of the draw to these sites, or a hindrance to their new, alternative use? Drawing from experiences of researching and working in historic cemeteries, this paper explores the transition from cities of the dead to places for the living and looks at a selection of sites that have capitalized on the darker side of the historic environment.