Jews' Court is the Oldest synagogue in the British Isles

Oldest synagogues in the United Kingdom

The designation oldest synagogue in the United Kingdom requires careful definition. A number of synagogues that predate the expulsion of the Jews from England have been discovered by archaeologists or by historians in buildings that have been in use for other purposes for many centuries...

. A Norman

Norman architecture

About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...

 building on Steep Hill

Steep Hill

Steep Hill is a popular tourist street in the historic city of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England.At the top of the hill is the entrance to Lincoln Cathedral and at the bottom is Well Lane.The Hill consists of independent shops, tea rooms and pubs....

 in Lincoln

Lincoln, Lincolnshire

Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....

, immediately above Jew's House

Jew's House

The Jew's House is one of the earliest extant town houses in England. It lies on Steep Hill in Lincoln, immediately below Jew's Court.Dating from the mid-twelfth century, the building originally consisted of a hall at first floor level, measuring approximately 12 by 6 metres, above service and...

, it is dated to between 1150 and 1180. It is "probably the only standing medieval synagogue in England" and is a Grade I listed building.

The building is thought to have been used as a synagogue

Synagogue

A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...

 until the expulsion

Edict of Expulsion

In 1290, King Edward I issued an edict expelling all Jews from England. Lasting for the rest of the Middle Ages, it would be over 350 years until it was formally overturned in 1656...

 of the entire Jewish community from England in 1290. A niche on the eastern wall currently used as an ark

Ark (synagogue)

The Torah ark or ark in a synagogue is known in Hebrew as the Aron Kodesh by the Ashkenazim and as the Hekhál amongst most Sefardim. It is generally a receptacle, or ornamental closet, which contains each synagogue's Torah scrolls...

 may date from this period.

In 1910, a well

Water well

A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...

 was dug in the basement of the building; the owner subsequently claimed that this was where the body of Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln

Little Saint Hugh of Lincoln

Hugh of Lincoln was an English boy, whose death prompted a blood libel with ramifications that reach until today. Hugh is known as Little Saint Hugh to distinguish him from Saint Hugh, otherwise Hugh of Lincoln. The style is often corrupted to Little Sir Hugh...

 had been found.

In 1992, Jewish services were restarted in the building and still continue; the remainder of the building operates as a bookshop. The Lincolnshire Jewish Community, which is affiliated with Liberal Judaism, holds regular shabbat and other services at Jews' Court.

External links

• Lincoln's Medieval Jewish Community on Jewish Communities and Records - UK (hosted by jewishgen.org).