Sir Moses Montefiore Synagogue

Details

GRIMSBY

TA2709NE HENEAGE ROAD
699-1/18/41 (West side)
Sir Moses Montefiore Synagogue

GV II

Synagogue. 1885-8, with later C19 entrance arch adjoining to
right; ark extension to east end of 1934-5, and secondary
synagogue and schoolroom addition to rear (now meeting hall)
of 1933. Red brick with stone details; C20 ark extension in
brick. Welsh slate roof. Rectangular on plan, with entrance in
right return.
EXTERIOR: 2 storeys, 3 by 5 bays, gable facing. 3-bay front
has central section breaking forward. Moulded plinth. Drip
course. Central flat-roofed single-story ark extension,
rectangular on plan, has angle pilasters in patterned brick
capped with small domes, a small ventilator to the front in a
patterned brick surround, with a marble tablet below bearing a
First World War memorial inscription. Flanking sections of
main range each have an inscribed stone tablet, that to left
recording foundation stone laid by FD Mocatta of London, July
22nd 1885, that to right in Hebrew and English, commemorating
the 1935 jubilee. Pair of round-headed ground-floor windows
with hoodmoulds. Modillioned brick first-floor band with
chamfered top course. First floor has large central oculus in
moulded ashlar reveal with hoodmould, flanked by narrow
slit-lights beneath arched hoodmoulds. Above are six narrow
recessed panels terminating in a Lombardy frieze, the central
4 panels with blind slit-lights. Central bay is capped wth a
brick and ashlar triangular pediment with a dentilled and
moulded cornice, the tympanum containing a central stone panel
with an open book carved in relief beneath a round arch and an
ashlar Lombardy frieze. Side bays have twin round-arched
windows with fluted central shafts with moulded capitals,
hoodmoulds and recessed fluted ashlar apron panels; ashlar
Lombardy friezes, coped gable. Archway attached to
ground-floor right has chamfered plinth, chamfered round arch
with ashlar hoodmould beneath stone-coped gable; C20
wrought-iron gate.
Right return of main range has segmental-arched 2-light
windows, door with overlight to far right; pair of C20
inscribed marble memorial tablets. Low parapet, end stack to
left.
Single-storey hipped secondary synagogue has door to left, 4
segmental-headed 2-light windows, series of inscribed
foundation stones. Left return of main C19 range has 4 windows

to each floor with 2 round-arched lights in wooden frames,
stone sills and chamfered lintels; small casements to left.
INTERIOR: C19 synagogue has womens' balcony around 3 sides,
carried on shaped brackets and cast-iron columns with
Corinthian-style capitals. Panelled balcony front, panelled
dado. Sets of original C19 pews, those to balcony with shaped
arms on slender turned supports. Panelled plaster ceiling with
moulded cornices, 3 ornate roof vents. Central aisle has
wooden dais or bemah of 1934 with panelled sides, carved
inscriptions and lamps at the corners. Polished granite
surround to 1934 ark recess with panelled interior. East
windows with moulded plaster reveals, other windows with
wooden architraves and bracketed sills.
STAINED GLASS: covering a range of dates and designs (some
pictorial), and many with memorial inscriptions. The east
gable-end windows and the ground-floor north windows mostly
from the late C19-early C20, those on the south side and north
side first-floor from the 1920s and later. The circular east
window, in memory of Mrs Szapira of Boston, depicts the
commandment tablets supported by a lion and unicorn.
HISTORY: the only Victorian synagogue in Lincolnshire and
South Humberside, and one of few of this period in the country
to survive so intact. Together with its accompanying
bath-house (qv) this synagogue reflects the former
significance of Grimsby's Jewish community and the town's
prominence in the movement of Jews from Eastern Europe to
Britain and America. In the late C19 Grimsby was the third
largest centre (after London and Hull) for Jewish immigration,
with over 100,000 landing here in the peak years between 1881
and 1914.
Forms part of a notable group of Victorian and Edwardian
educational and religious buildings built on land provided by
the Heneage Estate; others surviving here include St Mary's
R.C. church, the Holme Hill School Education Centre, the Art
College and the Education Office in Eleanor Street (qv).
Anglican and Primitive Methodist churches also once stood
nearby.
(Humberside Leisure Services Heritage Publications: Gerlis D
and L: The Story of the Grimsby Jewish Community: Hull: 1986-;
Ambler R W: Great Grimsby Fishing Heritage: a brief for a
trail: Grimsby Borough Council: 1990-: 24-5, 48).



Listing NGR: TA2778609644


This List entry has been amended to add the source for War Memorials Register. This source was not used in the compilation of this List entry but is added here as a guide for further reading, 30 October 2017.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

479287

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Gerlis, Daphne and Leon, The Story of the Grimsby Jewish Community, (1986)

Websites
War Memorials Register, accessed 30 October 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/40194
War Memorials Register, accessed 30 October 2017 from http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/40196

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