Jews' Court, Lincoln
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
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "National Monument Record". Retrieved 19 February 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Kadish, Sharman (2006). Jewish Architectural Heritage in England. English Heritage. p. 105. ISBN 978-1-905624-28-7.
- ↑ Hillaby, Joe (July 1996). "Letter: Early 'synagogue'". British Archaeology (Council for British Archaeology) (16). Retrieved 21 September 2014.
- ↑ Weil, Eric (September 2003). "Lincolnshire Jewish Community". BBC Lincolnshire. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Jews' Court". About SLHA. Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
- ↑ "Jews' Court Bookshop". About SLHA. Society for Lincolnshire History & Archaeology. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
- ↑ Roberts, Marcus. "Trail Lincoln". JTrails: National Anglo-Jewish Heritage Trail. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
Sources
- Lincolnshire Jewish Community
- Hutchinson Concise Encyclopedia: Lincoln
External links
- Lincoln's Medieval Jewish Community on Jewish Communities and Records – UK (hosted by jewishgen.org).