Jews' Court, Lincoln

Frontage of Jews' Court

Jews' Court is the oldest synagogue in the British Isles. A Norman building on Steep Hill in Lincoln, immediately above Jew's House, it is dated to between 1150 and 1180.[1] It is "probably the only standing medieval synagogue in England"[2] and is a Grade I listed building.

The building is thought to have been used as a synagogue until the expulsion of the entire Jewish community from England in 1290. A niche on the eastern wall currently used as an ark may date from this period.[1][2][3]

In 1910, a well was dug in the basement of the building; the owner subsequently claimed that this was where the body of Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln had been found and charged people to see it.[4]

The building is now owned by the Jews’ Court Trust.[5]

In 1992, Jewish services were restarted in the building and still continue; the remainder of the building operates as a bookshop[6] and as the headquarters of the Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology.[5]

The Lincolnshire Jewish Community, which is affiliated with Liberal Judaism, holds regular shabbat and other services at Jews' Court.[7]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jew's Court, Lincoln.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "National Monument Record". Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Kadish, Sharman (2006). Jewish Architectural Heritage in England. English Heritage. p. 105. ISBN 978-1-905624-28-7.
  3. Hillaby, Joe (July 1996). "Letter: Early 'synagogue'". British Archaeology (Council for British Archaeology) (16). Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  4. Weil, Eric (September 2003). "Lincolnshire Jewish Community". BBC Lincolnshire. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  5. 5.0 5.1 "Jews' Court". About SLHA. Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  6. "Jews' Court Bookshop". About SLHA. Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
  7. Roberts, Marcus. "Trail Lincoln". JTrails: National Anglo-Jewish Heritage Trail. Retrieved 21 September 2014.

Sources

External links

Coordinates: 53°13′56″N 0°32′19″W / 53.2322°N 0.5387°W