WESTERN SYNAGOGUE

Identity Statement

Reference code(s)	: GB 0074 ACC/2911
Held at	: London Metropolitan Archives   Click here to find out how to view this collection at https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma ›
Full title	: WESTERN SYNAGOGUE
Date(s)	: 1767-1980
Level of description	: Collection
Extent	: 14 linear metres
Name of creator(s)	: Western Synagogue | London

Context

Administrative/Biographical history:

The Western Synagogue was founded in 1761. Its location has changed many times: in 1774 it moved to Bedford Road, Strand; from 1797 it met in Didben's Theatre "Sans Souci" in Denmark Court; in 1826 it moved to St. Alban's Place, Haymarket where it remained until 1914, moving to 40 Whitfield Street; in 1915 it moved to Alfred Place where it remained until 1943 when the Grotrian Hall, Wigmore Street was occupied; in 1947 it met in Carton Street and eventually a new synagogue was built in Crawford Place in 1957. It has remained an independent congregation.

The synagogue burial society has burial grounds in Edmonton, New Southgate and Cheshunt.

A portion of the congregation set up a separate synagogue in Brewer Street in 1810; this later moved to Maiden Lane. It reunited with the Western Synagogue in 1907.

The Synagogue was closely involved with the running of the Westminster Jews Free School, founded in 1820. Several friendly societies were associated with the synagogue.

Content

Scope and content/abstract:

Records of the Western Synagogue, 1767-1980. The earliest records are regulations and accounts of the Hebra Kadisha Shel Gemilluth Hassadim, 1767. Minutes of the Westminster Jews Free School, 1821-1838, are especially interesting. The bulk of the collection, however, consists of twentieth century administrative and financial records.

PLEASE NOTE: written permission from the depositors is required to access these records. Contact the President Western Synagogue, Western Marble Archive Synagogue, 32 Cumberland Place, London W1H 7DJ.

Access & Use

Language/scripts of material:
English

System of arrangement:

The archive has been arranged into the following series:
ACC/2911-01: Board of Management;
ACC/2911-02: President;
ACC/2911-03: Warden;
ACC/2911-04: Treasurer;
ACC/2911-05: Secretary;
ACC/2911-06: Burial Society;
ACC/2911-07: Friendly Society and other organisations;
ACC/2911-08: Exhibition material;
ACC/2911-09: Plans;
ACC/2911-10: Publications.

Conditions governing access:

Access by written permission only.

Conditions governing reproduction:

Copyright to these records rests with the depositor.

Finding aids:

Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm

Archival Information

Archival history:

Not all the records in Dr. Cecil Roth's inventory of 1932 have survived.

Immediate source of acquisition:

Deposited in May 1991.

Allied Materials

Related material:

For further records relating to the Western Synagogue see ACC/2712/WNS.

Publication note:

For further information please consult the LMA Information Leaflet: "Records of the Anglo-Jewish Community at London Metropolitan Archives"; available to download here: http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Records_and_archives/Visitor_information/free_information_leaflets.htm (URL correct Feb 2010).

Description Notes

Archivist's note:

Rules or conventions:
Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Date(s) of descriptions:
Description prepared in March 2010.