The Ohel, Witton Cemetery Jewish Section

THE OHEL, WITTON CEMETERY JEWISH SECTION, THE RIDGEWAY & WARREN ROAD

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Overview

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1391694
Date first listed:
20-Jun-2006
List Entry Name:
The Ohel, Witton Cemetery Jewish Section
Statutory Address:
THE OHEL, WITTON CEMETERY JEWISH SECTION, THE RIDGEWAY & WARREN ROAD
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Location

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:
Listed Building
Grade:
II
List Entry Number:
1391694
Date first listed:
20-Jun-2006
List Entry Name:
The Ohel, Witton Cemetery Jewish Section
Statutory Address 1:
THE OHEL, WITTON CEMETERY JEWISH SECTION, THE RIDGEWAY & WARREN ROAD

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

The scope of legal protection for listed buildings

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:
THE OHEL, WITTON CEMETERY JEWISH SECTION, THE RIDGEWAY & WARREN ROAD

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

District:
Birmingham (Metropolitan Authority)
Parish:
Non Civil Parish
National Grid Reference:
SP 08137 92942

Details

997/0/10436 THE RIDGEWAY & WARREN ROAD 20-JUN-06 THE OHEL, WITTON CEMETERY JEWISH SECTION

II Jewish Prayer Hall [Ohel]. 1937. Essex and Goodman, architects. Red Flemish bond brick with ashlar dressings and a plain tile roof. Octagonal with offset buttresses to the angles. Exterior: The East [entrance] and West [exit] sides each have double doors with 4-centered heads above which are windows with 3 lights. The North and South sides have blank, recessed panels where the Prayer Board and Roll of Honour hang inside. The other sides each have a 3-light, full-height window with traceried head. There is a stone parapet with blind panels. Above the entrance are the dates 5697 and 1937. Interior: The stone floor has bands of inlayed marble to the edges and a Star of David to the centre. The windows have stained glass showing the Tribes of Israel and symbols of the faith. The central, bronze light fitting is in the shape of a Star of David. To the lower walls is oak panelling with vase-shaped finials at the angles and there are an oak prayer board and a roll of honour to the South and North sides, respectively. The ceiling is panelled with chevron mouldings to the ribs. HISTORY: The Ohel stands in the 1935 extension to the Jewish section of Witton cemetery, the earlier part of which dates from 1869. The earlier Ohel has been demolished. SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE: Ohelim , as a type of building, have tended to suffer from vandalism and neglect. This elaborate example by Essex and Goodman, which stands in the New Jewish Cemetery at Witton, Birmingham, continues to serve one of the largest and longest-established Jewish populations in Britain. It is designed in a late-Gothic style and has stained glass windows, both of which are rare features in Jewish buildings and reflect a changing use of styles in Anglo-Jewish architecture throughout the C20. The date of the design and completion of the ohel have a distinct poignancy, occurring at a time when so much of European Jewry was under threat.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:
494819
Legacy System:
LBS

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.

Ordnance survey map of The Ohel, Witton Cemetery Jewish Section

Map

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End of official list entry

All text content is available under the Open Government Licence v3.0 , except where otherwise stated. Any supplied maps are © Crown Copyright [and database rights] 2026 OS AC0000815036 and may not be reproduced without permission.

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