Jesmond Synagogue, now known as Byzantine House, is a former Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located on Eskdale Terrace, in the Jesmond neighbourhood of Newcastle upon Tyne, in northeast England, in the United Kingdom. Established in 1914, the congregation worshiped in the Ashkenazi rite, until its closure in 1986.
| Jesmond Synagogue | |
|---|---|
 The former synagogue, now Byzantine House, in 2013 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism (former) |
| Rite | Nusach Ashkenaz |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue (1915–1986) |
| Status | Closed; and repurposed |
| Location | |
| Location | Eskdale Terrace, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
  Location of the former synagogue in Tyne and Wear | |
| Geographic coordinates | 54°59′08″N 1°36′26″W / 54.98556°N 1.60722°W |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Marcus Kenneth Glass |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Style | |
| Date established | 1914 (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1915 |
| [1] | |
The synagogue building was completed in 1915 and was used up until 1986, when a new synagogue building was completed in Culzean Park.[1]
History
editIt was originally conceived as a branch of the Leazes Park Synagogue for families who had moved out of the city centre, and was founded in 1914 as an independent congregation.[2]
The synagogue, on in Jesmond, was built in 1914–15 by Marcus Kenneth Glass in an Art Deco interpretation of Byzantine Revival style.[3]
The porch has a triple arcade and columns with lotus bud capitals. A large, sunburst, stained-glass window fills the huge Byzantine arch of the facade. The brickwork is coursed with alternating beige and red stripes.[4]
The synagogue was closed in 1986.[5] The exterior was carefully conserved; the interior was gutted and renovated for use as a school.[6] It formed part of the Newcastle High School for Girls until 2016, when approval was granted for its conversion into flats.[7][8]
A commemorative plaque marking the building's previous use as a synagogue was unveiled in July 2019.[9]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b "The former Jesmond Hebrew Congregation". Jewish Communities and Records – UK. JewishGen and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain. 8 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Jesmond Synagogue". The National Archives. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- ^ "Historic Newcastle building transformed into 'luxury' residences in £2.5m restoration". B Daily. 11 October 2019.
- ^ Kadish, Sharman (2006). Jewish Heritage in England: an architectural guide. English Heritage. p. 187.
- ^ "Jesmond, Eskdale Terrace, Jesmond Synagogue". Newcastle City Council. Twsitelines.info. 3 April 1965. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- ^ "Art role for ex-synagogue". The Journal. Newcastle, England. 25 May 2006.
- ^ Curtis, Andrew (n.d.). "Former Synagogue, Eskdale Road, Jesmond". Geograph Britain and Ireland. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
- ^ "Fancy living in this century-old former synagogue and school building?". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
- ^ "Commemorative plaque unveiled at former Jesmond Synagogue". Newcastle City Council.
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