Domus Conversorum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Domus Conversorum (House of Conversion) was a building and institution in London for Jews who had converted to Christianity. It provided a communal home and low wages.
It was established in 1253 by Henry III. With the expulsion of the Jews by Edward I in 1290, it became the only way for Jews to remain in the country. At that stage there were about eighty residents. By 1356 the last one of these died. Between 1331 to 1608 48 converts were admitted. The warden was also Master of the Rolls.
The building was in Chancery Lane. No records exist after 1609, but in 1891 the post of chaplain was abolished by act of parliament and the location, which had been used to store legal archives, became the Public Record Office.
"Domus Conversorum" was also sometimes used to describe the living quarters of lay brothers in monasteries.
