We are raising funds to support the ongoing care and preservation of the Hartwood Paupers Graveyard, where 1,255 souls are buried, many of them former patients of Hartwood Hospital, laid to rest without family, ceremony, or even a marker. This once-forgotten graveyard is now becoming a place of reflection, education, and remembrance.

Thanks to ongoing research and awareness efforts, public interest has grown with increased footfall both in person and online. Our website, which shares the stories of those interred, has seen more visitors than ever before. More people are coming to the site to pay their respects, explore its history, and acknowledge a part of our shared heritage that was long overlooked.

Most significantly, Hartwood Paupers Graveyard has now been officially recognised by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, a major milestone that acknowledges the importance and dignity of those buried here, including war veterans who had previously gone unrecognised.

Despite this recognition, the site remains almost entirely volunteer-run and self-funded. We maintain the grounds, carry out historical research, update and run the website, care for bee hives, and provide basic visitor facilities including a maintained toilet. This is all achieved through a combination of lengthy and uncertain grant applications, a small number of generous donations, and more often than not, the personal contributions of our volunteers, who give not just their time, but their own resources and financial assistance.

Why is this important?

Because every life matters, past and present

These are people who, through no fault of their own, ended up in institutional care and were buried without recognition. They deserve remembrance, dignity, and a cared-for resting place. By preserving and sharing their stories, we restore humanity to those who were once voiceless and invisible.

This cemetery is not just a burial ground, it is a historical site, a place of learning, and now, with official CWGC recognition, a location of national and Commonwealth importance. Your support helps us keep this place welcoming, maintained, and meaningful, for families, for future generations, and for everyone who believes in honouring the lives of those who came before us.