Jews’ Synagogue, Ainsworth Court, Long Millgate

A Jewish congregation had existed in Manchester from the mid eighteenth century. In 1788, a number of Jews (predominately pedlars) under the leadership of two brothers, Jacob and Lemon Nathan, rented premises around Shudehill, Long Millgate and Miller Street; in 1794, the congregation rented a former warehouse in Garden Street, Withy Grove, for public worship. From 1806 until 1824 the congregation occupied a room in Ainsworth Court, Long Millgate, before moving to Halliwell Street, Long Millgate where they remained until 1857.  A description of the Ainsworth Court buildings, including the former synagogue, is given in a Sales Notice in the Manchester Guardian of 13 October 1832:

By Mr Capes, at the Eagle Inn, Hanging Ditch, Manchester. on Wednesday the 31 day of October inst., The Fee-simple and Inheritance of and in all those FOUR several SHOPS and FIVE DWELLING-HOUSES, with a LARGE ROOM, running over three of such dwelling-houses, formerly used a Jews' Synagogue. situate on the northerly Side of Long Millgate, in Manchester, near unto the Free Grammar School. The shops are of recent erection, and front into Long Millgate; one of the dwellings is partly erected over the passage leading from Long Millgate into Ainsworth Court. and the remaining four dwelling-houses and the room are standing and being In Ainsworth Court. The whole is respectably tenanted at low rentals, the greater part of which have remained at similar rate for some years. and produce a net annual sum of £90 or thereabouts. The value of property has recently been increased by improvements in Todd-street (late Toad Lane) which is in the immediate vicinity. and in the event of the New Bury road being opened into that street, it then become much more valuable.  N. B. This property be sold to pay the purchaser eleven per cent.  The respective tenants will shew the premises; and for further particulars apply to Messrs. FORD and PARRY, solicitors, 23. King-street, Manchester. 

Reference    Manchester Guardian 13 October 1832 page 4
Reference    Manchester Guardian 20 October 1832 page 4