Our understanding of the past is shaped by historical records. But what do we do when researching something like homelessness about which there is little written evidence?
The sad fact is that most people who faced homelessness in the past have gone unrecorded and often unremembered. Most records that were made were seen as unimportant and many have been lost or destroyed. As a result, we have lots of information on the wealthy and powerful in history but very little on the lives of the most vulnerable in society.
The evidence that remains is fragmentary. It’s up to us to uncover these fragments and give voice to the people who have been forgotten.
This website presents a selection of items relating to the history of homelessness in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne to find out what they can tell us about homeless lives past and present.
Many of these items were originally uncovered by the Homeless History of Newcastle project. If you have any items or images you would like to add then please email homelesshistorynewcastle@gmail.com.
About the Homeless History of Newcastle project (2018-19)
‘A Homeless History of Newcastle’ was a ground-breaking local history project that ran from January 2018 to April 2019. The project brought a team of members from Crisis Skylight Newcastle (all of whom were homeless or had experience of homelessness) together with a historian and museum curator to explore local archives and find out what history can tell us about the ongoing crisis of homelessness, its causes and its effects on people.
The team met every week to visit archives, piece together the stories that were being uncovered, and discuss the issues surrounding homelessness now and in the past. They also visited cultural and heritage institutions around Newcastle/Gateshead to talk about the representation of homelessness in the heritage sector and to gather ideas for an exhibition on the history of homelessness.
Along the way, the team worked with Newcastle City Guides to plan, write and deliver a unique walking tour that told detailed stories of five people uncovered by the project who had all faced homelessness in 19th century Newcastle. The team also developed and hosted a major conference celebrating other radical local history projects across the North East and beyond.
The project culminated with the launch of ‘Missing Pieces: A History of Homelessness in Newcastle’. This major exhibition used archival evidence to explore experiences of homelessness in Newcastle’s past. It also laid bare public attitudes and government responses to homelessness in recent history. The city-wide exhibition took place in spring 2019 across Newcastle City Library, Discovery Museum, The Laing art gallery, Bessie Surtees House and St Nicholas Cathedral.
If you want to find out more about the project email homelesshistorynewcastle@gmail.com
The sad fact is that most people who faced homelessness in the past have gone unrecorded and often unremembered. Most records that were made were seen as unimportant and many have been lost or destroyed. As a result, we have lots of information on the wealthy and powerful in history but very little on the lives of the most vulnerable in society.
The evidence that remains is fragmentary. It’s up to us to uncover these fragments and give voice to the people who have been forgotten.
This website presents a selection of items relating to the history of homelessness in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne to find out what they can tell us about homeless lives past and present.
Many of these items were originally uncovered by the Homeless History of Newcastle project. If you have any items or images you would like to add then please email homelesshistorynewcastle@gmail.com.
About the Homeless History of Newcastle project (2018-19)
‘A Homeless History of Newcastle’ was a ground-breaking local history project that ran from January 2018 to April 2019. The project brought a team of members from Crisis Skylight Newcastle (all of whom were homeless or had experience of homelessness) together with a historian and museum curator to explore local archives and find out what history can tell us about the ongoing crisis of homelessness, its causes and its effects on people.
The team met every week to visit archives, piece together the stories that were being uncovered, and discuss the issues surrounding homelessness now and in the past. They also visited cultural and heritage institutions around Newcastle/Gateshead to talk about the representation of homelessness in the heritage sector and to gather ideas for an exhibition on the history of homelessness.
Along the way, the team worked with Newcastle City Guides to plan, write and deliver a unique walking tour that told detailed stories of five people uncovered by the project who had all faced homelessness in 19th century Newcastle. The team also developed and hosted a major conference celebrating other radical local history projects across the North East and beyond.
The project culminated with the launch of ‘Missing Pieces: A History of Homelessness in Newcastle’. This major exhibition used archival evidence to explore experiences of homelessness in Newcastle’s past. It also laid bare public attitudes and government responses to homelessness in recent history. The city-wide exhibition took place in spring 2019 across Newcastle City Library, Discovery Museum, The Laing art gallery, Bessie Surtees House and St Nicholas Cathedral.
Five members from Crisis Skylight Newcastle – John, Rachel, Rob,
P and C – worked on the project team and dedicated their time, energy and
knowledge to shape the project and the exhibition. The original exhibition installations
were built and designed by Newcastle-based artist Joe Shaw working with Crisis
members Dai, Ian and John.
The ‘Homeless History of Newcastle’ project was created by community historian and archivist, Kristopher McKie, who led the project alongside museum
curator, David Wright. Louise Wennington led the project on behalf of Crisis.
If you want to find out more about the project email homelesshistorynewcastle@gmail.com