Summary
A mid-C19 public house with two wings, incorporating an early-C19 former synagogue and an C18 dwelling, to the rear.
Reasons for Designation
The Star Inn, Market Jew Street, including No. 1 New Street and the former synagogue is listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
* Architectural interest: the Star Inn has a strong façade with good quality stucco detailing and makes an important contribution to this prominent street;
* Historic interest: a good example of a mid-C19 public house, the Star Inn stands in the centre of the late-medieval expansion of the town; it includes an earlier C18 town house to the rear and an early-C19 synagogue which stands on the site of the earliest synagogue in Penzance;
* Legibility: the evolution and former use of the various C18 and C19 components that make up this public house are still clearly legible;
* Group value: the public house has group value with the other listed buildings on Market Jew Street. The former synagogue to the rear has group value with the mid-C18 Jewish Burial Ground on Leskinnik Terrace (listed Grade II) as evidence of the C18 and C19 Jewish community in Penzance.
History
The Star Inn, previously known as the Star Hotel, was built in the mid-C19 and appears on the 1844 Penzance Tithe Map with outbuildings to the rear. To the south-east is No. 1 New Street, an C18 private dwelling. In 1768 the first purpose-built synagogue in Penzance was erected in the grounds of No.1. In 1807 a second synagogue was built on the same site. Both the synagogue and No.1 appear on the tithe map. In 1837, No. 1 and the adjacent building, No. 2 New Street, were sold to the neighbouring Jewish community and the synagogue enlarged. In 1907 the synagogue was sold to the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. Nos. 1 and 2 New Street were later sold into separate ownership again. In the 1970s the synagogue was again sold to the Upper Room Christian Fellowship. In the 1980s it was used as an exhibition space. The internal fittings in the synagogue included a first-floor ladies' gallery and an altar. Between 1984 and 1987 internal fittings were removed: it is unclear how many of the early fittings survive. No. 1 New Street was also altered internally at round this time. In 1986 the synagogue and No.1 New Street were sold and incorporated into the Star Inn, at the time owned by Devenish Breweries in Redruth. In the late C20 there was further infill within the rear courtyard. Listed Building Consent was granted in 2014 to carry out alterations to the main public house area, including the internal re-arrangement of the ground-floor serving area and rebuilding part of the south-west elevation.
Details
A mid-C19 public house with two wings, incorporating an early-C19 former synagogue and an C18 dwelling, to the rear.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
69514
Legacy System:
LBS
Sources
Websites http://www.jewishgen.org/jcr-uk/Community/Penzance/Penzance_Synagogue.htm Other
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
End of official list entry
