Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue Cheetham Hill Road Cheetham

During the course of the nineteenth century Manchester had attracted a large immigrant population and by 1871 over 1400 Jews had settled in the Strangeways and Cheetham Hill area of the city. Although a small Jewish community existed in Manchester in the early part of the century, many of the subsequent arrivals were of European origin. Until 1872 the Sephardi Jews had been part of the Old Congregation but the political and social in-fighting in the period 1869-72 finally led them to establish their own place of worship. Land on Cheetham Hill Road near Broughton Street was purchased from the Earl of Derby and the corner stone of the building laid on 11 June 1873. Edward Salomons, was responsible for the design, choosing a style based on the Hispano-Moresque synagogues of southern Spain. The main facade to Cheetham Hill Road incorporated horse-shoe arches and polychromatic banding of stone brick and marble, while the main entrance doors have fretwork panels inspired by the delicately carved alabaster open grilles used to screen the ladies galleries in medieval Spanish synagogues. The synagogue was planned on traditional Spanish and Portuguese practice with the bimah, or reader's platform, placed opposite the ark on the main axis of the building. Men were seated in the body of the synagogue with a ladies gallery at first floor level. The opulent interior had a decorative scheme in green (the traditional colour of the Sephardim to ward off the evil eye), beige and gold. An elaborate pattern of gilding has been found on the ten internal columns, hidden under subsequent coats of paint, while the intricate balcony rail was also gilded. The rich effect was further increased by the use of stained glass, the large rose window over the ark featuring Jewish religious symbols. The synagogue was consecrated on 6 May 1874 and, with the exception of the family synagogue of the Montefiores at Ramsgate, was the first Sephardi synagogue outside London.  With the gradual migration of the Jewish community northwards to the newer residential districts of Broughton Park, Prestwich and Whitefield, the synagogue became detached from its congregation. In 1983 the Sephardi Jews finally left the building to establish a new synagogue in Kersal, Salford.  Salomons' building has now become the Museum of Jewish History, opened on 25 March 1984, a rare example of the survival of a redundant synagogue.

A NEW SYNAGOGUE IN CHEETHAM HILL - The corner stone of the new synagogue now in course of erection in Cheetham Hill-road was laid yesterday by Sir Albert Sassoon CSI of Bombay. The new edifice, which is in connection with the Manchester congregation of Spanish and Portugese Jews, will be a very imposing one. The style of architecture is Moresque, the principal feature in the front being the entrance. The interior will be an open wooden roof with galleries supported by marble columns. There will be a reading desk in the centre and an arc at the east end, in a recess, with a large circular window above, to be filled with stained glass. The whole of the interior has been specially designed for future painted decorations. Seats will be provided for 200 gentlemen and 100 ladies. The architect is Mr E Salomons, Manchester, and the builder Mr S Warburton, Harpurhey. [Manchester Courier 12 June 1873 Page 6]

THE NEW SYNAGOGUE, MANCHESTER - The foundation stone of a new APortugese Synagogue@ in Manchester has been laid. The Portuguese community of Manchester comprises about thirty families and thirty unmarried members. The synagogue is intended to afford accommodation to 200 men and 200(?) women and,in case of future requirements, will be capable of extension. Its site is in the Cheetham Hill-road where, when completed, it will have its frontage. The cost of the building is estimated to exceed ,3,000, exclusive of any outlay on the school, which it is contemplated shortly to build. The style of architecture adopted is Mooresque, the principal feature of the front being the entrance in brickwork and stone, ornamented with vitrified marble bosses; the remainder of the elevation is in brickwork, with stone dressings. The interior has an open wooden roof with galleries supported on marble columns. The reading desk is in the centre. The ark is in the east, and in a recess, with large circular window above, will be filled with stained glass. The whole of the interior is especially designed for future painted decorations. Mr E Salomons is the architect and Mr S Warburton the builder.[Builder 21 June 1873 Page 495]

MANCHESTER.—New Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue - The synagogue erected in York Street, Cheetham, for the Spanish and Portuguese Jews resident in Manchester was consecrated on the 6th instant by the Rev. Mr Artom of London. The character of the design is founded upon the style of the Alhambra, treated with the utmost plainness. The building is in the form of a parallelogram with a length of 45 feet and a width of 32 feet. The exterior ornamentation has been chiefly concentrated on the facade which faces the street. The main entrance in the centre is crowned with a horseshoe arch, and the gable above is relieved by a row of five windows with stone columns and carved capitals. An elegant device composed of stone and Rust’s patent vitrified marble, which is let into the brickwork over the windows, completes the decoration. The main entrance opens into a vestibule 17 feet by 11 feet, above which is the committee room of the same dimensions, whilst leading off from the vestibule are the vestry and retiring rooms. In the interior of the synagogue the decorations are of a most lavish character. The ceiling is open half way into the roof, the constructional timbers are shown and ornamentally treated and the walls are covered with diaper. Gold is largely introduced in the stencilling of the mouldings round the windows and in the decoration of the columns supporting the gallery. The ark which is situated at the extreme end of the building is executed in various colours. It stands upon a dias several feet above the floor and is reached by three steps of white marble. The ark proper is in a recess about four feet deep, crowned bu a lofty horse-shoe arch and its rich plasterwork is treated in golden colours. A large circular window above the ark is filled with stained glass. The windows throughout the building are also filled with glass of the same description. The seats are arranged lengthwise on the two sides of the synagogue and with the accommodation found in the gallery which runs round three sides of the building, there will be sitting room for about 322 persons. The woodwork throughout is stained and varnished and the brass gas fittings have been specially designed to suit the character of the work. The building which is mainly built of brick, has cost nearly ,3,000. Mr E. Salomons of London and Manchester is the architect and Mr S Warburton of Harpurhey the builder. [British Architect. 15 March 1874. Page 314]

SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE SYNAGOGUE, MANCHESTER - On Wednesday this building, which is erected in York Street, Cheetham, was consecrated. The synagogue is unpretending in external appearance. The style is founded upon that of the Alhambra. The plan is a parallelogram, with a length of 45 feet and a width of 32 feet. The main entrance in the centre of the facade is crowned with a horseshoe arch, and the gable above is relieved by a row of five windows, with stone columns and carved capitals. A device, of stone and Rust's patent vitrified marble, is lot into the brick- work over the windows. The main entrance opens into a vestibule 17 feet by 11 feet, above which is a committee room of the same dimensions, whilst leading off from the vestibule are the vestry and retiring rooms. The ceiling is open half way into the roof, the constructional timbers are shown and ornamentally treated, and the. walls are covered with a diaper. Gold is largely introduced into stencilling, in the mouldings round the windows, and in the decoration of the columns supporting the gallery. The ark, which is situated at the extreme end of the building, is executed in marble of various colours blended with alabaster. It stands upon a dais several feet above the floor, and is reached by three steps of white marble. The ark proper is in a recess about four feet deep, crowned by a. lofty horseshoe arch. A large circular window above the ark as well as all the windows throughout the building are filled with stained glass. The seats are arranged lengthwise on the two sides of the synagogue, and with the gallery, which runs round three sides of the building, there is sitting room for about 312 persons. The woodwork throughout is stained and varnished, and the polished brass gas fittings have been specially designed to suit the character of the work. The building, which is mainly built of brick, has cost nearly £3,0001. Mr. Edward Solomons, of London and Manchester is the architect, and Mr. S. Warburton, of Harpurhey, the builder. [The Architect 9 May 1874 page 272]

MANCHESTER —The synagogue erected in York-street, Cheetham, for the Spanish and Portuguese Jews resident in Manchester, was consecrated on Wednesday. Externally the synagogue is unpretending in appearance. The design is founded upon the style of the Alhambra. The building is in the form of a rectangular parallelogram, with a length of 45ft. and a width of 32ft. The decorations of the interior are of the most lavish character, and are executed in the choicest style. The ceiling is opened half-way into the roof, the constructional timbers are shown and ornamentally treated, and the walls are covered with a diaper. Gold is largely introduced into stencilling in the mouldings round the windows, and in the decoration of the columns supporting the gallery. The ark is executed in marble of various colours blended with alabaster. It stands upon a dais several feet above the floor, and is reached by three steps of white marble. There will be sitting-room for about 312 persons. The building, which is mainly built of brick, has cost nearly £3,000. Mr. Edward Salomons, of London and Manchester, is the architect, and Mr. S. Warburton, of Harpurhey, the builder. [Building News 8 May 1874 page 515]

Reference    Manchester Courier 12 June 1873 Page 6
Reference    Builder 21 June 1873 Page 495
Reference    Building News 27 June1873 Page 742
Reference    British Architect. 15 March 1874. Page 314
Reference    The Architect 9 May 1874 page 272
Reference    Building News 8 May 1874 page 515
Reference    Dobkin, Monty    Broughton & Cheetham Hill.  Neil Richardson. Swinton. 1984
Reference    Shrigley, Ruth    Restoration of a Victorian Jewish Landmark.  Victorian Society Newsletter. Spring 1984
Reference    Williams, Bill    The Making of Manchester Jewry 1740-1875. Manchester University Press. 1976, 1985
Reference    Williams, Bill    Manchester Jewry: A pictorial history.  Archive Publications. Urmston, Manchester. 1988