Merthyr Synagogue
Encyclopedia
The former Merthyr Synagogue is located on Bryntirion Road in the Thomastown section of Merthyr Tydfil
, Wales
. It is a Grade II listed building and thought to be the oldest purpose-built synagogue
still standing in Wales.
and the largest town in Wales. The new congregation called itself the "Merthyr Tydfil Hebrew Congregation", and erected its first synagogue in 1852–1855 in John Street. That first building was demolished in the 1990s.
The 1855 building was replaced by the prosperous congregation with the surviving synagogue building in 1872–1875. The congregation had 27 head-of-household members in 1900.
The congregation, which had been dwindling, was rededicated in 1955. In the 1980s, the congregation was closed and the building was sold and became the Merthyr Christian Centre. As of 2006 the former synagogue was in use as a gymnasium. In 2008 there was a plan to convert the building into eight residential apartments whilst preserving the exterior of this "locally iconic" building.
style, as were the former synagogues of Llanelli
and Pontypridd
. Unlike the "simple," "charming" Gothic synagogues that once graced Llanelli and Pontypridd, however, the synagogue of Merthyr Tydfil is a "Disneyland" fantasy of a building that architectural historian Sharman Kadish
calls a "double-turreted Gothic folly" of a building. Kadesh considers the Merthyr Synagogue to be "architecturally speaking one of the most important synagogues in the UK."
The building is four storeys high, five when the raised basement is counted. It is crowned by a high gable
two-storeys tall, capped with stone finial
s. A double stone staircase rises to the Gothic entrance door. Two storeys above the door there is a pair of Gothic pointed-arch windows. Flanking the door and pointed-arch windows, a pair of hexagonal, stone turrets rise three storeys and are topped with hexagonal, conical roofs pointing skyward. As of 2006 the former Torah Ark has been moved into the raised basement where it was being preserved.
The gable is complete with a Welsh dragon
; Merthyr may be the only synagogue in the world to feature a dragon perched on the front gable.
The identity of the architect is unknown.
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. It is a Grade II listed building and thought to be the oldest purpose-built 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...
still standing in Wales.
History
The Jewish congregation of Merthyr was established in 1848 at a time when Merthyr Tydfil was a centre of the industrial revolutionIndustrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
and the largest town in Wales. The new congregation called itself the "Merthyr Tydfil Hebrew Congregation", and erected its first synagogue in 1852–1855 in John Street. That first building was demolished in the 1990s.
The 1855 building was replaced by the prosperous congregation with the surviving synagogue building in 1872–1875. The congregation had 27 head-of-household members in 1900.
The congregation, which had been dwindling, was rededicated in 1955. In the 1980s, the congregation was closed and the building was sold and became the Merthyr Christian Centre. As of 2006 the former synagogue was in use as a gymnasium. In 2008 there was a plan to convert the building into eight residential apartments whilst preserving the exterior of this "locally iconic" building.
Architecture
The synagogue is a stone building designed in Gothic RevivalGothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style, as were the former synagogues of Llanelli
Llanelli
Llanelli , the largest town in both the county of Carmarthenshire and the preserved county of Dyfed , Wales, sits on the Loughor estuary on the West Wales coast, approximately west-north-west of Swansea and south-east of the county town, Carmarthen. The town is famous for its proud rugby...
and Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
. Unlike the "simple," "charming" Gothic synagogues that once graced Llanelli and Pontypridd, however, the synagogue of Merthyr Tydfil is a "Disneyland" fantasy of a building that architectural historian Sharman Kadish
Sharman Kadish
Sharman Kadish is a contemporary scholar, author, and historian with particular expertise in Jewish British history and with several publications under her name. Of particular note is her monograph, Bolsheviks and British Jews...
calls a "double-turreted Gothic folly" of a building. Kadesh considers the Merthyr Synagogue to be "architecturally speaking one of the most important synagogues in the UK."
The building is four storeys high, five when the raised basement is counted. It is crowned by a high gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
two-storeys tall, capped with stone finial
Finial
The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be used as a decorative ornament on the ends of curtain rods...
s. A double stone staircase rises to the Gothic entrance door. Two storeys above the door there is a pair of Gothic pointed-arch windows. Flanking the door and pointed-arch windows, a pair of hexagonal, stone turrets rise three storeys and are topped with hexagonal, conical roofs pointing skyward. As of 2006 the former Torah Ark has been moved into the raised basement where it was being preserved.
The gable is complete with a Welsh dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
; Merthyr may be the only synagogue in the world to feature a dragon perched on the front gable.
The identity of the architect is unknown.
External links
- Merthyr Tudfil Jewish Community and Merthyr Tydfil Synagogue on Jewish Communities and Records - UK (hosted by jewishgen.org).