Exploring Crossbones Graveyard (Southwark) as a source of community wellbeing through multimodal, somatic journalling
Description
The study invited long‑term volunteers to engage in a three‑month period of self‑directed journalling using a set of prompt cards. These invited reflection on bodily sensations, emotional states, sensory encounters, and experiences of co‑dwelling with human and non‑human others at the site.
The dataset includes anonymised scans of journal pages and anonymised questionnaire responses (volunteer profile and closing reflective questionnaire).
Further contextual information about the research can be found in this accompanying blog post: https://piecesofcrossbones.blog/sensing-crossbones-bodies-in-place/
Collection Method
Each participant received a journalling pack containing a notebook, writing and drawing materials, craft stickers and tape and a set of instructions and prompt cards. The prompts invited reflection on bodily sensations, sensory input (scent, sound, tactility, vision) and cohabitation with human and non‑human others.
Participants journalled independently during or after volunteering sessions over a three‑month period. They were advised to respond to prompts that interested them on a particular day, rather than responding to every prompt each time. The journalling process was flexible, suggesting structured or unstructured writing, drawing or collage; participants also chose to incorporate photographs.
Two short optional questionnaires were also administered:
• a questionnaire capturing volunteer role information and optional demographic data relevant to the study’s focus on social inclusion
• a closing questionnaire inviting reflection on wellbeing and the journalling process
Data Objects
Offline / Analogue Data Records
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Data
Metadata
| Dataset Title: | Exploring Crossbones Graveyard (Southwark) as a source of community wellbeing through multimodal, somatic journalling |
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| Creators: | Reeves, Hannah and Sanderson, Casper |
| Subjects: | |
| Data collection method: | Data was generated using a qualitative, multimodal approach centred on self‑directed somatic journalling. Participants were purposively sampled from regular volunteers at Crossbones Graveyard (adults 18+, volunteering at least monthly for the previous three months).
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| Statement on legal, ethical, and access issues: | This dataset contains anonymised materials derived from human participants and was collected under Birkbeck ethics approval. Participants were fully briefed on what the study would entail and were supplied with information sheets. They provided written informed consent and were able to indicate which parts of their journals could be included in the dataset using consent stickers. All personal identifiers have been removed, and physical journals have been returned to participants or retained by the Principal Investigator according to their preference. Due to the small sample size and the specificity of the research site, access to the dataset is restricted and may be granted only to researchers with a legitimate interest in Crossbones Graveyard, at the discretion of the Principal Investigator and repository team. |
| Depositing User: | Paul Rigg |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Jul 2026 14:59 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Jul 2026 13:41 |
| Publisher: | Birkbeck College, University of London |
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Impact & Reach
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