Nearly 70 babies buried in mass unmarked graves

NEARLY 70 babies are buried in mass unmarked graves after dying in a Salvation Army-run institution for unmarried mothers in Newcastle.

- KALI LINDSAY

Hopedene Maternity Home operated between 1950 and 1973 in the Elswick area of the city.

Figures obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by ITV reveal 67 babies who were born and died at the institution are buried at unmarked plots without the families' knowledge.

The Journal has also seen the list of babies' names and dates shared as a result of the FOI request. The babies are buried in graves around Newcastle including at Heaton Cemetery, St Nicholas' Cemetery, Jesmond Old Cemetery and Elswick Cemetery.

An investigation by ITV revealed baby Andrew was one of the children born at Hopedene in 1958 and lived for just two days.

His family attempted to find his grave years later, but they were told by the council that he was buried with "other babies" in an unmarked plot in Elswick Cemetery.

His death certificate stated he had died due to multiple disabilities, something his family only recently discovered.