1066 circa
Jews first settle in London, arriving with William the Conqueror from Rouen.
1080
The Domesday book records a ‘Manassess’ in the nearby village of Bletchingdon, who may be the first identifiable Jew in the county. Around this time, Jews arrive in Oxford and settle in St Aldates.
1093
A Jew in London is said to have been converted at Westminster and become a monk.
1096
The Rouen pogrom brings in refugees who enlarge the London Jewry.
1096-1107
Robert, another Jewish convert, is recommended to the care of the Prior of Christ Church, Canterbury.
1125 - 1186
Aaron the Jew is the greatest of all the medieval Jewish bankers.
1127 circa
The first definite mention of a Jewry in London.
1130
Jews of London are fined £2,000.
1136
London Jewry is burnt out.
1141
The first mention of Oxford Jews when both King Stephen and Queen Matilda extort money from the community. Aaron ben Isaac's house is burnt down when the Jewry resists paying Queen Matilda.
1158
A Jewish community is thought to exist by this date. The Scholar Abraham ibn Ezra probably writes part of his famous Letter of the Sabbath in Canterbury during this year.
1159
The earliest mention of Jews in Lincoln is in this year.
1159
1159
The Jewish communities of Bungay and Thetford are established before this date, and almost certainly before start of the reign of Henry II in 1154.
1160
First recorded mention of Jews in Canterbury, Dieulecresse the Jew lends Richard of Anesty 40s.
1173-80
The Abbey of St Edmunds falls deeply into debt to the Jewish community, during the rule of Abbot Hugh. This is due to official borrowing by the abbot and unofficial borrowing by the sacristan and the cellarer.
1174
The Archdeacon of Bath, Peter de Blois, pleads to the Bishop of Ely, to be rescued from debt to Samson the Jew of Canterbury. Samson is one of the major money lenders of the city.
1174 circa
The Jewry in Bury St Edmunds is established. The Jews largely come from Bungay and Thetford, after Henry II effectively removed their protection under Hugh de Bigod.
1179
The monks of St Augustine's Abbey borrow from the Jews, and Pope Alexander III publishes a Papal Bull exhorting Henry II to protect the holy fraternity in their business dealings with the Jews.
1180 circa
The synagogue in the High Street is constructed. It is a small, vaulted, square building, set below ground level, with a number of colonnaded recesses, and made of stone with wood and tile floors as well as being richly decorated. It is the first building in the country to be decorated with indigo from the Orient, a fabulously rare and expensive pigment.
1181
Nicholas (a converted Jew?) works in the Mint at Canterbury, in the center of the Jewry close to the synagogue.
1181
Abbot Samson suceeds Abbot Hugh. The Jewish community interfere in the election, backing a failed bid by the sacristan to become abbot. Samson deposed the sacristan on his election and reduces the debt to the Jewish community.
1182
Jews are expelled from the royal domain of France and some come to live in London.
1182
A pogrom, followed by fire, breaks out in the London Jewry.
1183
Aaron of Lincoln is reviled by Christians for boasting that he made a shrine for St Alban in St Alban's Cathedral.
1185-8
The presence of Jews is noted in the town by this date. There is a Tallage (tax) of 60,000 marks raised against the Jews of Guildford and the rest of the country.
1186
Hugh of Avalon is appointed as Bishop of Lincoln. He is a great benefactor and protector of the Jewish community
1186
Aaron of Lincoln dies, and the king has to establish a special office in the Exchequer of the Jews (Scaccarium Aaronis) just to deal with his assets.
1187
Canterbury Jews support the monks of Christ Church in a dispute with Archbishop Baldwin. When the monks are besieged by Baldwin the Jews provide them with food, drink, and prayer.
1187
Much of the treasure of the deceased Aaron of Lincoln is lost to the sea along with the King's retinue between Shoreham and Dieppe.
1189
London Jews are massacred on Richard I coronation.
1189
The Northampton Donum. Representatives of all the Anglo-Jews are forced to assemble in Northampton to decide how much each Jewish community should pay towards King Richard's ransom.
1189
In the first year of Richard I’s reign, Isaac the son of the rabbi' in Guildford is fined £200 as part of the levy on Guildford's Jews. It's a huge sum, but he pays most of it off the following year.
1190
The Archa, a strong chest to store records of Jewish financial transactions, is set up.
1190
The Lincoln Jews are attacked by returning Crusaders but saved by Bishop Hugh.
1190
There is a religious riot against the Jews, provoked by the profane cult in nearby All Saints church around the body of the murderer, and anti-Semite, John of Stamford. This is suppressed in person by St. Hugh of Lincoln.
1190
On Palm Sunday, 18th March, 57 Jews are slaughtered. Subsequently, the rest of the town's Jews are expelled by the abbot.
1190 circa
The Jewish community open their first cemetery in Oxford, next to the river Cherwell.
1192
Isaac of St Edmunds is killed at Thetford, leaving an orphan in Bedford.
1194
The Canterbury Jewry is the third most important in England. The Jews are on good terms with both town and clergy. Jews live in the commercial heart of the city, principally in present day Jewry lane, White Horse Lane, Stour Street, High Street, and Best Lane. They own around 20 houses. Other Jews are known to live out in the county at Ospringe, Sittingbourne, Frenningham, Sandwich and Tonbridge. Some of these originally come from Canterbury.
1194
In the Nottingham Donum, Lincoln's Jewry pays the second largest tribute of £287 4s. 11d. London pays £.486 9s. 7d.
1194
The Northampton Jewry is the fifth largest Jewry.
1194
There is no evidence of a community at Bury in the Northampton Donum. However, Jews do appear to return to Bury at some point after this.
1200
Bishop Hugh dies and is deeply mourned by Lincoln Jews.
1200 circa
The Jews establish a Talmudic academy in Town, several scholars are known from Northampton, including a Master Aaron, the head of the academy, Rabbi Isaac ben Perez, a noted scholar, and a Rabbi Solomon.
1204
The king protects the Jews of London.
1206
The Jewish community is estimated to number some 100 Jews - a large Jewry.
1213
A House of converts is established in Southwark.
1215
London Jewry is sacked by the Barons during the Baron's war.
1215-86
The Northampton Jewry shrinks in size, and various confiscated Jewish properties are granted to Christians by the King.
1216 to 1241
Large numbers of Jews are recorded as living in Canterbury.
1220
Hugh is canonised as St Hugh of Lincoln. Two Lincoln Jews, Mosse de Ballio and Sara, wife of Deulacresse, are murdered in this year and the Jewry is raided.
1221
The Dominican Friars establish a priory in the Jewry; one purpose of the friary is to convert the Jews by the monks "exemplary carriage and gift of preaching".
1222
Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury publishes the edict of Oxford restricting Jewish life. Within his own diocese he orders all communications with Jews to be severed, even the selling of food and necessaries. The King dissolves the edicts and threatens arrest for all whom disobey.
1222
The Council of Oxford (following the direction of the Lateran Council of 1215) order the local Jews to wear a badge of shame above their left breast.
1222
Robert of Reading (or Robert "Haggai"), a Christian cleric is burnt to death by the Christian authorities for converting to Judaism and taking a Jewish wife. Another Jew is alleged to have been burnt at the Castle.
1225
A Jew, Abraham, is thrown into Jail on the charge of murder, but is acquitted.
1225 - 1275
Benedict, son of Moses of Nicole (i.e. Lincoln), is the most prominent English rabbinical scholar.
1226
The monks of Christ Church are long term and large scale borrowers from the Jewish community. The Priors Chapel in the Cathedral is built using Jewish loans.
1228/1229
The houses of David of Oxford and Isaac ben Moses are confiscated. They provide a new town hall and court house, as well as a possible ‘house of converts’ for Jewish converts to Christianity. The modern town hall is still on the site.
1230
Another tallage of 6,000 Marks is levied.
1231
The original Jewish cemetery is taken over by St John's Hospital and redeveloped as a new hospital and a Christian cemetery. The Jews are given a smaller and inferior site as a cemetery opposite.
1232
A House of Converts is established near the Jewry in London.
1232
Confiscation of synagogue in London, which is given to the Brethren of St Anthony of Vienna.
1232 - 1234
Two more Tallages of 18,000 marks are exacted.
1234
A Jew is converted and baptized by the monks of St Augustine's, and named Augustine.
1237
Another tallage is exacted.
1237
Northampton Jews are forbidden to reside outside the town of Northampton in the Shire.
1239
All Jews are taxed to a total of one third of their property.
1240
Jehozadak ben Jehozadak, is named in the records as a rabbi, and a member of the Canterbury Rabbinic Court or Beth Din.
1241
The Canterbury Jewry is still prosperous, and sends six representatives to the Jews Parliament in Worcester to help raise a tax (or Tallage) of 20,000, marks. Salle son of Jose (ie, Solomon ben Joseph) flourishes (d.1270) and is very prominent in the Kent Jewry. He has large scale financial dealings in Kent and London. Rabbi Aaron of Canterbury, a notable scholar, flourishes in Canterbury.
1241 - 1280
Isaac of Southwark, a rich and important Jew is recorded in Guildford. He lends money and was probably a Jewish official ('serviens Judeorum') at the Exchequer of the Jews. Another Jew, an Isaac of Southwark is mentioned in 1234, who could have been his father.
1244
A blood libel occurs in London
1244
Student rent rioters attack and sack Jewish homes. They claim that all study in the University has stopped as all their books are pawned to Jewish money lenders!
1245
Benjamin ben Meir flourishes in Canterbury, being one of the six richest Jews in England.
1250
After the economic collapse of the York Jewry, Lincoln ranks in importance with Oxford, after London.
1250 circa
The Northampton Jewry remains one of the most important Jewrys in England, with around 80 Jews living in the town.
1253
A Samuel of Ospringe is mentioned.
1255
The Canterbury Jewry declines to the rank of the eighth most important Jewry.
1255
A young Christian boy, Hugh, is murdered. The Jews of Lincoln are accused – an instance of The Blood Libel. Little Hugh is locally revered as a 'saint'.
1255 - 1280
The Angel Choir is constructed in the Cathedral along with the shrine to Little Hugh.
1257
The King confiscates houses belonging to Copin, son of Molkin.
1257 - 1280
Hagin, son of Moses, brother of Benedict of Nicole is the Arch-Presbyter of the English Jews.
1259
The Northampton Jews establish a small cemetery outside the North Gate of the town, on land perpetually leased from St Andrew's Priory.
1261
The Jews suffer a pogrom during the Baron's War at the hands of clergy and laity. No lives are lost but many are violently assaulted.
1263
The London Jewry is pillaged by the Barons and many Jews die.
1264
Jews of London attacked (along with those of Northampton and Canterbury). A newly built synagogue is burnt down.
1264
Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, one of the rebellious barons, captures Canterbury and sacks the Jewish quarter. The object is to destroy records of debt, Jews are violently assaulted some may have been killed.
1264
The community is attacked by rebel Barons, and takes refuge in the Castle. They refuse to leave their refuge and resume business for a considerable period. The king is forced to intervene to guarantee their safety.
1266
The Jews have return to Canterbury, and the leading 17 Jews of the city sign a treaty of self-defense, against, 'liars, improper persons, or slanderers'.
1266
Lincoln Jews are attacked by the 'disinherited' knights during the Baron's War. They burn records of debts and sack the synagogue.
1268
The third and last Crusade begins at Northampton.
1268
A religious riot is started on Ascension Day. It is alleged that a local Jew trampled and broke a cross in a solemn University religious procession. The Jews are temporarily imprisoned, and then the king punishes them by forcing them to pay for a large marble cross eventually put up in Merton College.
1270s
The Guildford synagogue is destroyed and the remains of the shell, some four feet high, is filled with its rubble. A silver penny is left, probably deliberately, between the stones of the bench-recess in the east wall, circa 1272-79. This may have been the site of an Ark.
1272
The main London synagogue is confiscated. It is complained that the continuous wailing howling and loud lamentations are disturbing the neighbouring Friars of the Sack.
1272
Queen Eleanor of Provence, the wife of Henry III, is widowed and gains control of towns given as part of her dowry - these include Guildford.
1272
Thomas son of Martin and William Haruwe break into Isaac of Southwark's house and steal his goods. Isaac's grandson (from his daughter Slema) is accused of being one of a gang of Jews who abducted and abused Juliana, a Jewish convert to Christianity.
Isaac's maternal uncle, also Isaac of Southwark, is dead by this year.
Isaac's maternal uncle, also Isaac of Southwark, is dead by this year.
1275
The statute de Judaismo prohibits Canterbury Jews lending money. Henceforth the Canterbury Jews trade in contracts for Wool, Wheat, and Corn - effectively forms of 'futures' trading.
1275
The king confiscates more Jewish properties. Caleman, a Canterbury Jew is murdered.
1275
Leon (Judah) of Lincoln, one of the most prominent businessmen of the period, is executed.
1275
Queen Eleanor enters a nunnery and, feeling unable to profit from the Jews, expels them from her towns including Guildford.
1275-7
Abraham, Floria, Josce and his wife, Formosa, all of Guildford are mentioned in the records.
1277
Sampson ben Samson, a leading Northampton Jew, is alleged to have worn a monk's habit, posing as a Franciscan monk, and preaching "in contempt of the Christian faith". The Archbishop of Canterbury sentences him to be driven naked through several towns and cities, on three successive days in each, with the entrails of a calf around his neck.
1277
Good Friday - the community is falsely accused of the crucifixion and attempted murder of a Christian boy St Sepulchres' churchyard. Tradition alleges that in consequence, 50 Jews were executed horribly, being "drawn at horse’s tails" and hanged in trees outside the gates of Northampton.
1278
Six Canterbury Jews are executed in London on charges of coin clipping, and their properties are confiscated. The rest are temporarily incarcerated in the castle, and various of their goods and chattels are illegally seized by local people.
1278
Bellassez, daughter of Master Benedict of Lincoln, is hanged in London.
1278
Many Northampton Jews are executed on a charge of coin clipping, and forgery, in London.
1278
Many leading Jews, including some from Oxford, are accused of coin clipping and executed at the Tower of London.
1280
Two convert Jews collect a Poll-Tax of 2d. a head from the Canterbury Jews to support the House of Converts in London.
1280
Agnes and Barnabas of Northampton "formerly Jews, and now converted to the faith of the Church" have their house and goods restored to them by the king for the maintenance of them and their family.
1280-1308
Jews of Bury St Edmunds are recorded in the London House of Converts.
1281
A Royal inquisition reveals that many Northampton Jews are dealing in wool - probably as a response to the Royal prohibition on usury of 1275.
1284
Tax returns show there are 34 Jews living in Canterbury aged 12 years and above.
1288
All Anglo-Jews imprisoned and released on the payment of a ransom.
1290
General expulsion of Jews form England; the end of the London Jewry.
1290
The expulsion - all Canterbury Jews are expelled from the realm. An inquest shows that 16 men and six women had enough wealth to be mentioned in the record. The Jewry consisted of a synagogue, with 15 houses or parts of houses, and three plots of land. The Jewry leaves behind five Jewish converts.
1290
All the Jews of Lincoln are expelled in the general expulsion of Jews from England. The financial assets of 62 Jews are listed. Most of the houses are in Brauncegate (now Grantham Street) or St Martin's Parish.
1290
Edward expels all the English Jews, and all of their immovable property and assets are confiscated. The Northampton community leaves ten properties behind them. The walls and stones of the cemetery are valued at 30 shillings "for carting away". Moses son of James of Oxford, together with his family and household, are granted safe passage to the continent by the King.
1290
Isaac of Southwark is dead by this date.
1290
All English Jews are expelled from the country, and their goods and property confiscated. The Oxford Jewry goes to William Burnel, Provost of Wells, and then to Balliol College. The synagogue eventually becomes a tavern, and the cemetery is taken over by St John's Hospital, and becomes a Christian burial ground.
1291
The former synagogue is granted to the Abbot of St James. The former cemetery is apparently disposed of and desecrated in this year.
1327
Queen Isabella is granted a large income, some of which comes from the former houses of the Jews in Northampton.
1484
– In an inspeximus, it is noted that some 26 Jewish houses still survive in Lincoln and are still known by the name of their former Jewish owners. The cemetery also still survives. Another petition by the citizens of Lincoln, to Edward III, recalling former Jewish properties, also notes that, '… it is now sheweth that the greatest hide - places were of their buildings…' a possible reference to the secure cellars of the former Jewish properties.
1550s
Richard Bruern, Regius Professor of Hebrew at Oxford, is deposed for ‘Judaising’.
1608
Jacob Wolfgang renounces Judaism and has a Christian baptism to become a member of Oxford University.
1610
Jacob Barnet, a Jew and former secretary of Causabon, works in the University. He offers to convert but at the last minute flees his baptism in the University Church. He is later arrested by the University and subsequently expelled from the country.
1640
The medieval synagogue still survives as the 'Saracens Head Tavern'.
1655
Menasseh ben Israel arrives in London to negotiate the re-admission of the Jews to London and England.
1655
Jews are officially readmitted to England under Cromwell.
1656
Jewish Murranos live and worship openly in London.
1657
The first English synagogue of the modern era is opened in London.
1664
The king promises to protect the Jews.
1677
The Court of Alderman forbids the residence in London of poor Jews.
1690 circa
Ashkenazi Jews first arrive in London and start a community.
1696
Richmond Wells, a spa, opens on Richmond Hill and becomes a centre of high society.
1697
Solomon Medina, a merchant, banker and army contractor, is the first known Jewish resident in Richmond.
1699
On the 18th of November King William breaks his journey to Hampton Court to dine with Solomon de Medina - probably at Heron Court.
1700
The King gives Sir Solomon de Medina his knighthood.
1700 circa
Jewish stockbrokers from London visit Oxford as tourists, and attend Public ceremonies of the University.
1702
Bevis Marks synagogue is built in the City of London, now the oldest synagogue in England.
1702
Medina returns to Holland.
1704
There is a split in the congregation of the Great synagogue, led by Marcus Moses which eventually leads to the founding of the Hambro, synagogue.
1707
The Hambro congregation acquire a burial ground at Hoxton.
1710
A synagogue exists at this time according to Madame Otterbourg, daughter of the famous Dover Rabbi, R.I.Cohen
1715
Three ancient houses are recorded by Henry Lee as houses built and occupied by medieval Jews.
1716
Moses Hart has lived in Richmond for some years before this time.
1718 circa
Moses Hart, founder of the Great Synagogue (1722), buys a property - "a noble seat" (latterly the site of Gordon House) across, the river at nearby Isleworth.
1720 to 1730 circa
c. 1720-30? Jews return to live in Canterbury, they are forced to reside and worship outside of the ancient city limits.
1720-1734 circa
Moses de Medina live on Ferry Hill, later Bridge House. Moses is a leading Sephardi, having been three times warden of Bevis Marks synagogue.
1720s
Isaac Fernandez Nunez, treasurer and warden of Bevis Marks synagogue lives at Hotham House in Heron Court. Many rich Jews start to live in Richmond. Their houses are country and weekend retreats. Richmond attracts high society around its own spa and the Jews find ready social acceptance.
1721-6
Marcus Moses succeeds in building a new synagogue in his garden at Magpye Alley despite sustained opposition.
1722
The Great Synagogue is opened in London with much opposition.
1723
The famous Cheltenham Spa (of alkaline water) is established.
1730
The Villa Real School is founded.
1730
A new Jewish congregation is formed, and worship is established at sometime in a temporary building in the St Dunstan's area of the city.
1730 circa
A small Jewish community, mostly of traders and peddlers, is established in St Clements, Oxford.
1731
Catherine de Costa is the first known Jewish visitor to Bath. She comes to Bath for her health.
1732
There are anti-Semitic riots in London.
1732
The Talmud Torah School established at Dukes Place, later to become the Jews Free School.
1732
Medieval Hebrew inscriptions still survive in the keep of Canterbury Castle.
1734
Jacob Harris is reputed to have committed a murder at Ditchling near Brighton. After being apprehended and hung, his body was suspended in a gibbet at Ditchling for many years.
1736
A small statuette of Little Hugh is said to still survive in the Cathedral.
1737
Many leading Sephardim are subscribers to Bath General Hospital and attend the spa for both their health and for their social aspirations.
1748
Aaron Franks a very rich diamond merchant, buys Isleworth House, next to the Hart's mansion, it becomes the family seat for over a hundred years and they entertain high society. Branches of the family later live in Teddington and Mortlake. The family are familiar with Horace Walpole.
1749
The port of Ramsgate is built for the Channel Squadron. The town grows as a holiday resort.
1750
Brighton is a Fishing Port with a population of 2,500. From this year Dr Russell starts to popularise bathing at Brighton.
1750 Circa
- There are records of individual Jews and Jewish families in Leeds.
1750s
Richmond Wells reach the height of their celebrity.
1750s
Henry Isaac, the proprietor of the Hambro synagogue (the second Ashkenazi synagogue in England), lives in Hotham House.
1752
The Jew Bill or Jewish Naturalisation Act passed and repealed a year later.
1753
Jewish marriages are legalised.
1754
Isabella Levy, daughter of Judith Levy, dies 11 months after marrying the Hon. Lockhart Gordon.
1754-1803
Judith Hart, the daughter of Moses Hart the founder of the Great Synagogue, lives at Maids of Honour Row. She is immensely rich and charismatic and becomes the center of Richmond High Society, hence the nick-name the "Queen of Richmond Green"
1756
Moses Hart, moves from Isleworth and buys a house on the site of Asgill House
1760
Board of Deputies is founded.
1760
A Jewish cemetery is established in Canterbury.
1760
Sarah, Baroness d'Aguilar opens the Ball twice in May of this year.
1763
A new synagogue is set up, in St Dunstan's.
1766
Israel Samuel Cohen is the first recorded Jew in Brighton. He is a silver-smith, toy man and lodging-house keeper of East Street, Brighton.
1766 - 1767
Nathan Elias, a Jew of Lincoln, is admitted to membership of the Great Synagogue. There are several other Jewish individuals in Lincoln in the period, but probably no fully-fledged community.
1768-1818
Rabbi Ash records a number of circumcisions and marriages in Dover and elsewhere in Kent.
1770
An Abraham Benjamin 'of Brighthelmstone' is known from an inscription in a prayer book.
1770
Three Jewish, summer visitors organise a congregation in Dover.
1771
Moses Samuel, the retired parnas of the Great Synagogue, retires to Bath and becomes communal leader. He is to found both of the synagogues in Bath.
1771
The tradition that Moyse's Hall is Jewish is recorded for the first time.
1776/7
Marcus Wolf, a Jewish tradesman, is indicted by the University courts for dishonest trading, and is forbidden to trade in the city liberty.
1780
Richmond Wells are closed, by local residents, having fallen into disrepute.
1780
Jacob Abraham, an optician, arrives in Bath from Exeter. He is one of the founders of an organised Jewish community in Bath.
1780s
Jewish peddlers may have come to Brackley on their walks.
1782
Emanuel Hyam Cohen arrives direct from Bavaria and is credited with establishing the Brighton Jewish Community. He is an educated man and works as school master keeping his own school until 1816.
1782
A local tradition relates that the remains of a cross in the church yard of St Sepulchre is the remains of a cross set up in memory of the "outrage" committed against a young Christian boy in 1277. Folk tradition also asserts that St Sepulchre's Church itself was the former synagogue! The cross in reality was probably blown down from the church roof in gales in 1661.
1783
The Prince Regent (later George IV) makes his first visit to the town and helps popularise it.
1784
Sir Moses Montefiori is born
1786
A record of a circumcision in Arundel relates that 14 men from both Arundel and Brighthelmstone were present, indicating that there was a small but established group of Jews in Brighton.
1786
The first Ramsgate Jew settles in town, Isaac Lyon, a silversmith.
1787
Judith Levy pays most of the cost of rebuilding her father's Great Synagogue.
1787
Isabella Franks (a minor) marries a Christian, William Henry Cooper, a son of a Baronet and knight and later to be Chaplain-in-ordinary to George III.
1788
George III patronizes the spa.
1789
The first Synagogue is founded at the south end of Jew Street - a street name coined by this year. Before 1800 some six Jewish families reside in the resort. Many of the early Jewish settlers in the town were lodging house keepers catering for a Jewish tourist trade.
1789
Noah Levi, a watch maker arrives and lives in Queen Street.
1789-80
The Sampson family live in Bury St Edmunds and their children are born there. They eventually emigrate to South Carolina.
1790
Dukes Place synagogue built.
1790 circa
The community is established in the navy-dock area of Blue Town, Sheerness, as an off-shoot of the Chatham community, by Isaac and Samuel Abrahams.
1791
The tomb of Little Hugh is opened and a skeleton of a small boy is found.
1792
A Dover trade directory lists a small number of Jewish Silversmiths (including a Henry Moses) and shopkeepers.
1794
There is a performance of Richard Cumberland's philo-semitic play, The Jew, at the Duke Street Theatre in the town.
1794
John Braham the Jewish tenor sings in Bath as indeed on many other occasions.
1794
Henry J. Levy, a watch-maker, arrives in 1794 and lives at Albion Hill.
1797
Haymarket synagogue is established the first to be built outside of the City.
1798
Benjamin Norden, the African explorer and founder of the South African Jewish community, is born.
1799
By now most of the Canterbury Jews live within the city walls, in St Peter's Street, and Parish, in the West Gate suburb.
1800
Ephraim Alex is born in Cheltenham, the founder of the Jewish Board of Guardians.
1801
Pellegrine Treves is well-known as part of the Prince Regent's circle in Brighton, the first British Court Jew.
1802
Isaac Levy, a slop seller gives evidence against ordinary seaman John Levy who is then flogged round the fleet.
1803
Judith Levy dies isolated and intestate in London, leaving £125,000.
1804
The first burial takes place in the tiny Jewish cemetery
1804-5
J. Abrahams and M. Asher are pawnbrokers.
1805
A fracas occurs in the synagogue and a Jewish constable is assaulted. The miscreants are apprehended, fined and jailed.
1806
The cemetery is leased for 99 years.
1807
Jewish visitors frequent Brighton as a watering hole in some numbers.
1807
Abram Abrams (gentlemen)is promoted to Ensign in the local volunteer force.
1808
Solomon Abraham Durlacher establishes himself as an important dentist in Bath.
1808 circa
A second Synagogue is founded in Pounes Court, off West Street. This may have been a room or rooms in a house belonging to Isaac Levy or Abraham Benjamin.
1810
Asher and Rosa Nathan are attacked by navy officers.
1810
A cat is thrown into the synagogue to disrupt the service. A reward of 20 guineas is offered for the culprits.
1810
Mordecai Moses of Lincoln dies and is buried at Hull.
1811
A new synagogue is built.
1812
Sheerness congregants are punished by the London Dayanim (Rabbinical judges)for doing business onboard a Man-O'-War on the Jewish Sabbath.
1812
Henry Russell, the famous songwriter is born in Sheerness.
1812
Moses Montefiori passes through Ramsgate on his honeymoon and decides to live there.
1813
Jonas Abraham and Aaron Moss have their Navy Agents' license revoked for abuse of position.
1814
Jewish business men from Bath trade in Cheltenham. Jacob Abraham, optician, moves from Bath to Cheltenham to set up shop.
1814
Robertson's Compendious Hebrew Dictionary is published in Bath. Nahum Joseph, is a Hebrew teacher in Bath and assists with its editing.
1814
Moses Moses is a licensed Navy agent in Dover.
1815
The Jewish Cemetery at Bath is established.
1815
Moses, a Jew, is a witness to a Quaker wedding, signing his name in Hebrew. He is the first documented Jew in Northampton since the Middle Ages.
1816
The list of Navy Agents shows nine licensed Jewish navy Agents.
1816
A Jewish marriage is contracted between Sarah Meyers and Hyam Abrahams.
1816
Rabbi Solomon Wolfe becomes Reader to the Bath congregation, a post (along with other communal functions) he was to hold for 50 years. The first synagogue in Kingsmead Street is probably founded at this time.
1816
George Gershon converts to Christianity, despite all efforts by the community to prevent it. He dies one month later.
1817
The London Society preaches conversion to Jews in the town.
1820
Samuel Abraham (founder of the synagogue) has his navy agents' license revoked for the abuse of his position.
1820 circa
c.1820 Many members of the community emigrate to the Island of St Helena, and later to South Africa.
1820s
The Jewish community emerges to service the needs of the new middle-class suburb of Pittville in the north of the town.
1820s
Jewish settlers arrived in Bradford.
1822
Moses Montefiori leases East Cliff Lodge, a grand Gothic villa as his marital home.
1823
A formal Jewish congregation is established and meets at St Georges Place.
1823 - 1825
Dr John Simpson of Bradford records a 'Mr Jacobs, the jeweller' as a regular Jewish visitor to Bradford. This is possibly the first reference to be found to Jews in Bradford.
1824
Pigots' Directory lists the following Jews and profession; Levi Alexander (Navy Agent), Isaac and Michael Abraham (Pawnbrokers and Silver Smiths), Michael and Isaac Abraham (Tailors and Drapers, Daniel Cohen (Watchmaker).
1825
Moses Levy of Frankfort is appointed shochet or kosher slaughterer in Dover.
1828
The Duke of Wellington makes large purchases at Jacob Abraham's shop.
1828
Simon Barrow, an influential Sephardic Jew in Bath, converts to Christianity with his family.
1830
The first Jewish Emancipation Bill is passed.
1830's.
Leeds Jewish community is founded though it is very small.
1831
Restriction on Jewish traders in the City lifted.
1831
The cemetery is expanded.
1831
After the Napoleonic War the community declines - many are found to have moved to Glasgow.
1831
Sir Moses finally manages to buy East Cliff lodge.
1832
The city corporation collects the annual 8d. rent due on the confiscated property of the medieval Jewry for the last time.
1832
Isleworth House is inherited by Priscilla, now Lady Cooper, the Coopers hold it until 1862.
1833
The owner of the Brighton Guardian is prosecuted and convicted for seditious libel in the famous Rex v. Cohen case. He had accused over-bearing magistrates as responsible for agricultural unrest and was fined and served a six-month sentence in Chelmsford Goal.
1833
David Salomons is elected Sheriff of London and Middlesex.
1833
Second Jewish emancipation Bill is passed.
1833
Moses Montefiori builds a synagogue at Ramsgate in imitation of his ancestral synagogue of Leghorn in Italy.
1833
Jews petition the Dover Harbour Board for a site to build a synagogue. The existing synagogue is in a ruinous state, perhaps sited in the Pier district.
1835
Abraham Cohen emigrates to Australia, Several of his children and a number of his descendants, become prominent in the life of the colony.
1836
Salomons is elected an Alderman of the city of London.
1836
Simon Barrow is elected an Alderman of Bath.
1836
The new synagogue is opened in Hawkesbury Street.
1837
The Devonshire Place Synagogue is improved and extended to plans by David Mocatta the Architect. Apart from the synagogue, there is a residence, a school room and a two-storey work-shop.
1837
Simon Barrow is elected Mayor of Bath.
1837-9
A new synagogue is built at St James Square for £1,500.
1838
Henry Solomon is appointed the first Chief Constable of Brighton; he is the first Jewish policeman.
1838
Benjamin Cohen, buys the lease of Asgill House. He becomes a J.P. and Deputy-Lieutenant for Surrey. Arthur Cohen K.C., his son also lives at Asgill House and is gazetted Privy Councillor - he is judge of the Cinque Ports.
1838
The London Society baptizes two Jews.
1838
There are Jewish booksellers, drapers, furriers, opticians, watchmakers, wheelchair makers, fancy goods sellers.
1838
Jacob Behrens arrives in Bradford and is the first Jewish settler in Bradford in modern times. He was the first foreign merchant to export wool goods from Bradford.
1839
Moses Samuel dies and leaves a legacy of £300 pounds to the community.
1839
Nathaniel Isaacs of Chatham takes his own life, by poison, in the Victoria Hotel, Dover. Thus he avoided arrest for committing major cheque fraud in Chatham and Gravesend.
1839
One of the last Jewish families in Bury St Edmunds is the Hyams family.
1840
Mr. Leopold Neumegen establishes his school for Jews, at Gloucester House, Kew - it is an upper-class establishment. Sir George Jessel is one of his pupils. It survives until this century.
1840
The congregation publishes its laws and regulations.
1840
A Jewish cemetery was opened in Leeds and religious services are held in a loft in Bridge Street.
1840
Sir Moses successfully intervenes with the Sultan of Damascus to lift the charge of Blood Libel
1840 circa
The Northampton Jewish Tombstone is dug up during a development in Princes Street. Other pieces of tombstone are discovered here and elsewhere around this time.
1841
The growth of the railways heralds further great expansion of the town.
1841
There is a burglary of ritual items from the synagogue.
1841
The census in Leeds reveals only nine identifiably Jewish families together with a number of single male lodgers - a total of 56 persons.
1841
The city of Bath is connected by railway to London.
1841
There are eight permanent Jewish families and households, comprising 35 persons in total. They live mostly in Snargate Street, a commercial area. Trades are listed as drapers, matching, general salesmen, dressmaker.
1841 circa
The synagogue is restored but there are only five Jewish families left in Sheerness. In trade directories they are all Abrahams, Levys and Jacobs (excepting one Benjamin (the furrier)) - slopsellers, pawnbrokers / silversmiths, haberdasher / milliner / dressmaker, furniture-broker.
1842
The very first Jewish marriage in Leeds takes place, between James Cohen Pirani and Abigail Davis, daughter of Gabriel Davis, optician and optical instrument maker of Boar Lane.
1842
The new Corn Street synagogue opens; a modest building in a poor area, built with Moses Samuel's legacy.
1842
The modern Jewish community of Oxford is established.
1843
The Minister of the synagogue and his mother are arrested and accused of killing their maid-servant by poisoning. They are acquitted, but the mother is censured and they leave the town in disgrace.
1843
Two more Jews are baptized by the London Society.
1843
Lewis Dight, a communal leader leads a succession from the synagogue after a dispute with the Warden.
1843
The community gain their cemetery in perpetuity.
1844
Henry Solomon is murdered in his own police station by a felon and madman. The death causes a national sensation and the murderer is hanged.
1844
The cemetery in Elm Street is established.
1844
A Master Levy of Stroud pays a stranger's fee of 1/- per week to the Cheltenham Congregation
1845
Jewish women use the public baths of the city for ritual bathing.
1845
A Jewish wedding takes place.
1845
Bath has four Jewish house-holders, five seat holders, a reader and kosher butcher. There are 15 men, 12 women and 23 children.
1846
The Brighton Hebrew Philanthropic Society is formed to relieve poverty in the community, and gives widely.
1846
The community gain opprobrium due to their involvement selling off of the effects of the dead from a plague ship.
1846
The first proper synagogue in Leeds opens in a converted house in Back Rockingham Street.
1847
The community makes its living from a wide range of market town trades and occupations. Trades include, china, glass, earthenware, and hardware dealing, clothes and furniture broking, linen and wool drapers, pawnbroking, and watch and clock making.
1847
A new synagogue is built in the Egyptian Style, in King Street, the old one being demolished to make way for a railway line. The population is 106.
1847
There is a Jewish population of 97, though 25 are unaffiliated to the synagogue.
1847
There are only 45 Jews in town.
1848
Moses Montefiori visits the new synagogue and gives donations.
1850
It is estimated that 75 Jews live in Cheltenham.
1850 circa
The Jewry starts to decline.
1850s
Some Jewish shopkeepers are established in Richmond.
1851
The Census lists 11 Jewish families or households. Occupations are listed clothiers, china and glass sellers, silversmiths, tailors and outfitters, general dealers, teachers, watchmakers, commercial dealers, sugar confectioners, pawnbrokers.
1851
Jacob Unna and Jacob Behrens, are founders of the Bradford Chamber of Commerce.
1851 circa
The community constructs a ritual bath (Mikveh) in the grounds of the synagogue. The community also enjoy the services of a kosher slaughterer and butcher.
1852
Visitors to Jews Court are told it contained the well where Little Hugh was murdered by the Jews.
1853
There are 15 seat-holders in the synagogue.
1853
Leading Bradford Jews, including Jacob Moser, promoted the building of St Georges Hall concert hall.
1855
Salomons is elected first Jewish mayor of London.
1856
Leeds attracts Jews because of its growing clothing industry. This was started in 1856 by John Barran, a non-Jew, and he was assisted by an immigrant Jew, Herman Friend.
1856
Jewish emancipation. Jews are allowed to study in Oxford University for the first time, but are still barred from holding college fellowships because most are still solely for Christian clergymen.
1857
Samuel Isaac lives in Northampton, and is a major military contractor, supplying army boots, and other military kit, especially to the American Civil War.
1858
Francis Goldsmid is appointed the first Jewish QC.
1858
G.L.Michel and Son, leather merchants and shoe machinists, is established in Northampton. He is a founder of the industrialised shoe industry in Northampton, one of the last British industries to be mechanised and factorised. Michel is originally a German immigrant, and establishes the Northampton Hebrew Congregation.
1859
The Jewish Board of Guardians is founded to help increasing numbers of Jews in need.
1859
A new cemetery plot is established in the Isle of Sheppey cemetery
1860
The first purpose-built synagogue in Leeds is erected in in Belgrave Street.
1861
There are still only 200 Jews present in Leeds. Most of this early community is made up of German born immigrants.
1862
There is a Brighton branch of the Society for Promoting Christianity amongst the Jews.
1862
Judith Montefiori passes away at Rosh Hashanah and Sir Moses is grief stricken. He builds a mausoleum for her by the synagogue.
1863
Rabbi R.I.Cohen founds a new and larger synagogue at Northampton street, partly built over a tunnel for the River Dour.
1863
Samuel Isaac donates a fountain to the town, to commemorate the marriage of Prince Albert to Princess Alexandra of Denmark. This is set up in the Market Square.
1863-4
There is an acrimonious and public dispute with the Canterbury community over the burial of a visiting Cardiff Jew at the Canterbury cemetery. Rabbi Cohen founds a Jewish cemetery with an ohel at the municipal cemetery at Copt Hill, Dover, with the help of the Dover Harbour Board.
1864
The synagogue is restored.
1864
Charles Semon, is elected Bradford's first Jewish and foreign-born mayor.
1865
Gas light is installed in the synagogue.
1865
Rabbi R.I.Cohen officiates at the opening of Mount Ellis, the home of a Jewish colliery owner and business man from Leicestershire. Rabbi Cohen dies in the same year aged 62. He is succeeded by Rabbi Neumann.
1865
The Chief Rabbi includes Bradford in his provincial tour, but only six people attended a meeting convened to talk to him! Many Jews are assimilated. There are over 100 children in the Jewish community but no facilities for their Jewish education.
1866
Jews are allowed to enter both Commons and the House of Lords for the first time.
1866
Rabbi Solomon Wolfe dies after 50 years of service to the Bath community. No rabbi following him serves the community for longer than five years.
1867
Rabbi Barnstein succeeds Rabbi Neumann and serves the community for 50 years.
1868
Henry B. Samuelson, the local Liberal candidate implies an anti-Semitic slur in one of his election speeches. Samuel later privately apologised after the Jewish community protested.
1868
The first burial in the new Dover cemetery takes place.
1868
Sir George Jessel becomes the Liberal Member of Parliament for Dover. In this period (1868-73) he gives his annual and celebrated 'state of the nation' lectures.
1869
Henry Hart is appointed first Jewish mayor of Canterbury, serving twice more as mayor in 1869 and 1890-1.
1869
Another Jewish wedding takes place.
1869
Sir Moses establishes a memorial college for Lady Judith.
1870
The United Synagogue is established.
1870 ‑ 1871
During the Franco‑Prussian war, many German Jewish merchants transfer their headquarters to Bradford and built impressive warehouses, in 'Little Germany'.
1871
Sir George Jessel is the first Jew to be appointed a Minister of the Crown.
1871
The passing of the University Test Act allows Jews full freedom to enter university as students and lecturers.
1871
The most prevalent Jewish profession is pawnbroking.
1871
The Chief Rabbi visits the synagogue.
1871
Clerical restrictions are lifted on all fellowships.
1872
The rabbi, P. Phillips complains of his very low income.
1872
Rabbi Nathan Jacobs of Cardiff retires to Bath, and temporarily relieves the decline of the community.
1872
The Ramsgate Jewish Burial Ground is established by Benjamin Norden.
1873
Jessel is appointed first Jewish Judge and Privy Councilor
1873
Sir George Jessel becomes Master of the Rolls and resigns his seat in Parliament.
1873
The formation of a Jewish Association in Bradford.
1873
The Rev. Dr. Joseph Strauss is appointed the first Rabbi in Bradford.
1874
The synagogue finances reach crisis point. The synagogue also needs more repairs.
1874
The community has only five male members remaining, they find it difficult to arrange a regular minyan.
1874
Alderman Henry Hart of Canterbury opens a business in Dover, part of an expanding chain of shops.
1875
A new Synagogue is built at 66 Middle Street to designs by Thomas Lianson to accommodate a new influx of Jews both living and visiting. The town is host to many influential and distinguished Jews.
1876
The old Devonshire Place Synagogue is sold off.
1876
The community appeals for funds to restore the synagogue and cemetery.
1876
Rabbi Strauss is appointed lecturer in Hebrew and Oriental languages at the Airedale Independent College, Bradford.
1876-7
Henry Jacobs is a founding board member of Blue Town Elementary School.
1877
The community is founded. Most Jews are from Russia and Poland and work in the clothing trade.
1877-1881
There is a large influx of Jews to Stroud from a wide variety of locations in England and Wales.
1878
The first Jewish child is born in Stroud, the first mention of a Jewish family in Stroud
1879
The community is now large enough to send a representative to the Board of Deputies.
1880
The Chief Rabbi, Dr Nathan Adler, lives in 36 First Avenue, Hove. He dies there ten years later.
1880
The synagogue is restarted.
1880s
There is a large influx of Jewish immigrants to Leeds from Russian controlled territories, and, in particular, from modern day Lithuania and north east Poland
1881
The synagogue is largely defunct again.
1881
Russian Jews flee Russia and arrive in Bradford and quickly form their own Orthodox Synagogue.
1881
Two Jewish ministers and rabbis are recorded in the Census. Most Jewish residents of the town are tailors
1881-3
William "shifter" Goldberg of Lincoln College is amongst the first Jewish undergraduates at Oxford.
1882
The synagogue is flooded.
1882
Jacob Behrens is knighted by Queen Victoria for his work in connection with commercial treaties between England and France.
1882-93
Samuel Alexander becomes the second Jew to hold a fellowship in the University.
1883
Moses Montefiori celebrates his 100th year.
1885
Lord Rothschild created the first Jewish Peer.
1885
Sir Moses passes away at 101 years old; his funeral is a major event at Ramsgate as he is laid to rest by his wife. Joseph Sebag inherits his estate and mantle and Queen Victoria licenses him to use the Montefiori name.
1885
The Northampton Hebrew Congregation is formerly established, and is lent a Sefer Torah from Nottingham. This starts in Mitchell's house, 37 - 39 Newlands. A shochet (kosher butcher) is also appointed. The community is mostly of "very poor people", working in the shoe and leather industry, or as tailors.
1887
The synagogue and the community are in complete decay. The Chief Rabbi advises the synagogue is dismantled.
1887
The cemetery is signed over to the Spanish and Portuguese congregation. Benjamin Norden the African explorer dies.
1887
Five Jews die in the famous shipwreck of the W.A. Sholten.
1887
Up to this date Stroud Jews are still buried in the old Gloucester cemetery.
1887
Frank Lindo, actor and theatrical manager, starts his theatrical career at Stroud with an appearance in ‘My Sweetheart’.
1889
The synagogue is restored, and re-consecrated, after falling into serious disrepair.
1889
The new synagogue in Landsdowne Road is consecrated having been built at the cost of £630.
1890
The new Northampton Synagogue is opened in Overstone Road. It is a refurbished "Iron Church", a prefabricated wood and corrugated Mission Church, purchased from the New Jerusalem Church.
1890s
The community now has its own synagogue, rabbi and schochet.
1891
This census shows there were 8,000 Jews in Leeds, 72% were involved in tailoring, usually working in 'sweat shops'.
1891
The Census shows that the main influx of Jews has stabilized and that Jews have now settled for longer periods in the town. Many Jewish men have married local non-Jewish women.
The Jewish population is about 160.
The Jewish population is about 160.
1892
Electric light is installed in Middle Street synagogue for the first time - probably the first synagogue in England to have this innovation.
1892
The synagogue has only three members left. The synagogue minyan depends on school boys at the nearby Cheltenham College. However there is also a brief revival this year.
1892
Berthold Reif, from Czechoslovakia, comes to Bradford and became a merchant and then mill owner in the Great Depression. He was said to possess 'The Spice of Adventure'.
1892
The Oxford Jewish Congregation moves to its Richmond Road site, in the artisan quarter of Jericho.
1892
The Oxford Jewish Congregation moves to its Richmond Road site, in the artisan quarter of Jericho.
1894
Halperns' Directory lists four Jewish businesses in Cheltenham.
1894
The synagogue is ruined by flooding again. The Chief Rabbi visits and deplores the lack of Jewish education for the children. The synagogue is flooded again, but repaired
1894
In this year there are a variety of Jewish professions in Ramsgate, there are about 100 Jews in town. However tailors and keepers of boarding houses predominate.
1894
Jonas Levi a Ramsgate J.P and barrister dies.
1894
There are around 12 Jewish families in Dover mostly situated in Snargate Street.
1895
Converted Jewish children from Palestine Place in the East End of London are temporarily lodged at Ramsgate while awaiting removal to their new Mission School, Streatham Common, South West.
1895
There are 30 Jewish families
1895
Baron Wandsworth lives in Bury St Edmunds.
1895-7
The Stroud community are in dispute with the now much depleted Cheltenham community over the right to use the cemetery.
1896
The synagogue records its last congregational minutes. There are only 12 Jews left in the city.
1896
Joseph Sebag Montefiori is given a knighthood. The Lady Judith College temporarily closes due to an administrative crisis.
1896
Rev H. Jonas is appointed rabbi. The Jewish population is now around 100.
1896
There are 35 Jewish residents of the city and 10 undergraduates recorded. The minister is Rev. S Radnitzki.
1897
There are 130 Jews in Stroud.
1899-1901
There is a legal dispute over a legacy to the synagogue. This wastes most of the remaining community assets.
1900
Doffmann's tailor's shop established by this date on the corner of Abingdon Street and the Market square. The junctions becomes known to locals as Doffmann's Corner.
1901
The synagogue is only used on High Holy Days.
1901
There are four Jews living in Cheltenham.
1901
The Leeds Jewish community has grown to 14,000.
1901
The last entry in the communal minutes is made. The last Jewish marriage takes place at the Assembly Rooms.
1901
The Jewish community remains more or less static in numbers. There are a number of Jewish undergraduates, and a tiny number of assimilated (so called 'murrano') Jewish fellows.
1902
The Stroud community gains the right to use the Cheltenham burial ground.
1902
After some debate about the merits of religious segregation in the cemetery, the Hebrew Congregation is granted a separate Jewish cemetery within the new municipal cemetery, off Towcester Road. Before this Northampton Jews were sent for burial in Birmingham. The first Jewish burial in Northampton since 1290 takes place.
1903
The synagogue is closed except for festivals attended by Jewish students at Corinth House.
1903
The former synagogue becomes a marine store.
1903
Sir Joseph dies.
1904
Mrs Jacobs dies aged 87 at Southend, a well known member of the Jewish community - one of the last. Deaths of former Sheerness Jews are reported in London, for example at Victoria Park, Hackney. Henry Russell brother of Frances Jacobs dies at Willesden Terrace.
1904
The first of several Jewish city councillors in Leeds are elected. Subsequently, there have been three Jewish Lord Mayors and a Jewish High Sheriff of Yorkshire
1904
Kosher meat, prepared by the rabbi, is sold in a separate section of a local non-Jewish butcher. There are 17 children of school age registered at the Sabbath School.
1904-5
Rabbi Zechariah Dimovitch is the last rabbi at Stroud, the community cannot really afford to support a minister.
1905
The Alien Restriction Act is passed which curtails Jewish refugee immigration.
1905
The Aliens' Act of 1905 curtails Jewish immigration to Leeds.
1905
The Adler Society is founded in Oxford University.
1908
The synagogue is disused and the marriage register is closed; the organised Jewish community ends.
1908
A student minister Mr. Isaac Ostroff officiates at Stroud and acts as mohel and schochet.
1909
There is a Jewish population of 750
1909
The contract for the medieval Northampton Jewish cemetery - the only surviving document of the original Northampton Jewry - is bought from an Edinburgh street hawker's barrow for 2d. The Northampton Hebrew Congregation consists of some 17 families.
1910
The Jewish population is c.116.
1910 - 1913
Alderman Barnett Marks ('Barny') is the first Jewish mayor of Hove
1911
The Jewish community in the city faces extinction, the synagogue is closed.
1911
The lease of the derelict synagogue expires and passes to St Paul's Church. But some services are still held from time to time by Reuben Somers, a master tailor resident since the 1880s, at the Assembly Rooms.
1911
A pamphlet was published saying that a well had been uncovered but in 1928 this is found to be a fraud. It was dug by the Victorian house owner in order to make money from gullible tourists by claiming it was the well where Hugh was found.
1911
G.L.Michel dies.
1913
The synagogue is temporarily reopened for Jewish soldiers in the First World War.
1914
The synagogue reopens very briefly in March when some Jewish families settle in the area.
1914
One Jewish family is left at the start of the war.
1914 - 1919
The First World War and strong anti-German feelings terminally damaged the German community of Bradford and many in the German community changed their names or gave up Bradford altogether
1914 circa
Mr. Neumegen's School, now run by his daughter, Ada, is closed.
1914-18
125 Jewish men serve in World War men and 5 are killed. There is an influx of Jewish evacuees to Brighton, some of whom settle permanently in Brighton.
1916
Arthur Howitt, a leading local Jew and proprietor of the Castle Hotel, founds the first synagogue in Richmond, situated in the Central Hall, Parkshot. The United Synagogue are very reluctant to support a new synagogue outside of London.
1917
Solomon Joseph (a Jewish councillor in Folkestone)is killed and Rabbi Barnstein is injured, in the Dover Tram accident (the worst ever tram accident in the UK) on 20 August. Joseph was visiting Barnstein, his brother in law, to celebrate Barnstein's golden wedding anniversary.
1917
Anti-Jewish riots occur in the main Jewish area of Leylands in Leeds, when a mob attacked the Leylands, destroying property and looting Jewish shops.
1917
Lazarus Hart (b.1831) another J.P. and twice Mayor of Ramsgate dies.
1920
The Jewish population has dropped to 40 due to a war induced depression of the local economy.
1920 circa
Many Jews experience discrimination in Leeds, some Anglicise their names in response.
1921
Brighton AJEX is formed after World War I
1921
The last burial in the Jewish cemetery takes place.
1921
Henry Hart, a community leader, dies
1922
Jewish boys from aristocratic Sephardic families attend Winchester House School, a Church of England boys' preparatory boarding school, and some 50 - 60 Jewish boys attend up to 1950, especially during the war.
1922
Corinth House is closed by the college, the last house master, Daniel Lipson, secedes with half the boys to a form Corinth College.
1923
Leeds Jews later find it almost impossible to join local golf clubs so they set up their own.
1924
Hyman Appleby Leon, sees Richmond from the top of a bus and decides to move to Richmond. He starts a ladies fashion shop at 7 Hill Street.
1924
Councillor Arthur Howitt (elected 1922) becomes first Jewish mayor of Richmond. He is well known for his charitable and philanthropic work as well as sporting interests. He is a widower and uniquely appoints his 11 years old daughter, Bettie, as honourary mayoress!
1925
Lewis Cohen is involved in a protest to stop Brighton Trams operating out of their depot during the 'Battle of Lewes Road'.
1925
Rabbi Barnstein dies and is buried at Liverpool.
1927-46
Kerstein keeps a kosher hotel in Bath and hold services there.
1928
Lincoln City Council recommended demolishing Jews' Court because of its bad state of repair, though they wanted to keep the well as a tourist attraction.
1928 circa
The Leeds Jewish population peaks at c. 22-25,000.
1929
Reuben Somers dies.
1930
Herbert Loewe (The Reader in Rabbinics) is the only professing Jewish fellow in Oxford. Most Jewish undergraduates still hide their Jewish identity.
1930s
The Blackshirts parade along the Brighton seafront and local Jews attack Mosely's followers
1930s
Some seven or eight Jewish families are now settled in the town.
1931
The Jewish community ceases to exist in Canterbury. The synagogue is handed over to the charity commissioners, and the Torah scrolls are entrusted to the Oxford congregation.
1932
The Jewish Historical Society held a meeting and service in the upper room of Jews' Court, this was probably the first to be held on this site since 1290.
1932
Sir Isaiah Berlin is elected to his fellowship at All Souls College. He is only the fourth Jewish fellow in Oxford.
1933 - 1945
Bradford Jews are at the forefront of helping Jews to leave the continent, after Hitler's rise to power, and many Jews make Bradford their new home and increase the post-war Jewish population.
1935
The Progressive Synagogue in founded in Lansdown Road, Hove.
1935
Corinth College closes.
1935
There are 24 paying members of the Hebrew Congregation.
1935 circa
The synagogue is finally dismantled.
1935-7
Lipson becomes Mayor of Cheltenham.
1937-50
Lipson is elected an independent MP.
1938
A new building, an old chapel in Sheen Road, is acquired for a synagogue by Hyman Appleby Leon (by now a Councillor) as the original is too small. Councillor Leon will later become Mayor three times.
1938
The site of the synagogue is redeveloped.
1939 - 1945
Brackley and surrounding villages, becomes home to Jewish refugees from Hitler's Holocaust and Jewish child evacuees. A group of some 12 Jewish families move to Brackley, from London, to avoid the bombing and the risk of invasion and so that their children can go to the excellent local schools. There are Jewish serviceman and women based at the local airfields.
1939-45
In World War II 30 Jewish servicemen die in military service. During the War some Jews are evacuated from Brighton and Hove, others move down from London. Jewish Canadian troops also help increase numbers of Jews in Brighton. The Middle Street Synagogue is saved from incendiary devices.
1939-45
The Second World War destroys parts of the City (including the Great Synagogue) and destroys much of the Jewish East End. Very few Jews live in the City or the near vicinity of the City anymore.
1939-45
The old synagogue is reopened by Orthodox evacuees, and local families.
1939-45
The War disperses the community, but the community revives briefly after the War.
1939-45
The war disperses and destroys the Jewish community. Heavy bombing at 'Hells Corner' destroys Jewish homes, businesses and the synagogue. Local post war commercial recession discourages any attempts to rebuild the community.
1939-45
There is a considerable influx of war-time refugees swelling the Jewish population.
1940-5
The Jewish population of Oxford is massively increased by refugees (including Albert Einstein) and evacuees to about 3,000. A home is set up in 1 Linton Road for 15 ‘Kindertransport’ children.
1940s - 1950s
Some 15 to 20 Jewish families are still reckoned to live in the Stroud, Cheltenham and Gloucester area.
1941
A German refugee is barmitsvah at Kerstein's. War time refugees from Europe and Jewish service men (including Americans) revive the community temporarily.
1941 -
A German refugee is barmitsvah at Kerstein's. War time refugees from Europe and Jewish service men (including Americans) revive the community temporarily.v
1945
Some Jewish families stay on after the war and the synagogue remains open.
1945
Joseph Kagen, later Lord Kagan, a Holocaust survivor, initially comes to Bradford at the end of the war. He went on to found Kagen Textiles Ltd.
1946
There is a Jewish population of 490
1946-50
Most refugees and evacuees leave Oxford. Rabbi Weinberg leaves Oxford in 1948.
1948
A president of the Oxford Union society (Clive Wigram) refuses to allow a debate on ‘Jewish rights’ (vis à vis a Jewish homeland), because he is Jewish.
1949
There is a Jewish population of 700
1950
Golda Meir is the guest speaker at a JPA (Joint Palestine Appeal) fund- raising dinner held at the Royal Pavilion.
1950
Dover Harbour Board makes a compulsory purchase of the bombed out synagogue. The site of the synagogue is now mostly under a new dual carriageway.
1950-3
One Jewish serviceman dies in the Korean War
1952
Judith College is used to train African Jews for the Jewish ministry.
1955
The New Synagogue (Reform) is founded in Hove.
1956-7
Lewis Cohen, later Lord Cohen of Brighton, is elected Mayor of Brighton
1960
An Ohel is built next to the cemetery.
1960s
There are still ‘hidden Jews’ isolated and assimilated in Stroud who still identified with Judaism but keep it quiet.
1961
Judith Montefiori College is demolished a reflection of the general terminal decline of the community.
1962
The former synagogue is used as a church hall.
1962
Samuel Isaac's fountain is taken down, though the base survived for a few years after this.
1964
The old synagogue on Overstone Road is demolished.
1964-8
A Lubavitch rabbi, Stanley Kinn, lives in Mill House and uses it for holidays and retreats.
1965
The opening of the University of Kent at Canterbury re-vitalises Jewish life, Jews live in the city again.
1965
There is a Jewish population of 700
1965
A new synagogue is built, on the same site.
1966
Lewis Cohen, is created a life-peer and becomes Lord Cohen of Brighton
1967
Joseph Barnett dies. He had been three times mayor of Ramsgate.
1968 - 1969
Councillor Norman Freedman is President of Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce
1969
The Jewish community numbers between 200 and 300.
1969 - 1970
Councillor Norman Freedman is the second Jewish Mayor of Hove.
1970
The Bradford Community builds a new Orthodox Synagogue in Springhurst Gardens in Shipley.
1970 - 2011
A small number of Jewish families and individuals live in Brackley and the surrounding areas and there are a few Jewish businesses in the area.
1972 - 1974
Councillor Sydney Lovegrove is elected the third Jewish Mayor of Hove
1973
The Lubavitch cease activities on the estate.
1975
Several Jewish lecturers, and city families, form a new Jewish community.
1978
Canterbury is dependant on Chatham or Margate for services.
1980s
Many Jewish families and young Jewish people leave Bradford for Leeds and London, and both the Orthodox and Reform communities were depleted.
1981
There are 300 Jews resident in the city.
1981
The Sheen Road synagogue is decrepit and the Council wants to redevelop the land.
1981
Jewish tourists regularly inquire about the Jewish history of the town. Jews have inquired about the Jewish history of Bath since least 1971.
1981
Jewish tourists regularly inquire about the Jewish history of the town. Jews have inquired about the Jewish history of Bath since least 1971.
1982
Some Jews still live in Bath but travel to Bristol for services.
1982
Some Jews still live in Bath but travel to Bristol for services.
1984
There are some 100 congregants of Cheltenham synagogue.
1984
Councillor Olive Messer, becomes the fourth Jewish Lord Mayor of Bradford, following on a tradition started by Joseph Semon, who was Mayor, and former Lord Mayors, Jacob Moser and Alderman Black.
1985
There are 6,500 - 10,000 Jews in Brighton.
1985
The 'old synagogue' is sold to the Kings School. It is refurbished for use as a music room.
1986
A settlement of £426,000 is reached with the Council and the old synagogue vacated. The Council plan to build a Waitrose supermarket and a multi-storey car park.
1987
A new purpose built synagogue is opened in Lichfield Gardens.
1987
Robert Moore, an archaeological curator, rediscovers the Northampton Jewish tombstone in the museum basement where it has been since the 1860s. By chance it is positively identified by Marcus Roberts in 1991. It is the only known example of a medieval Jewish tombstone in England.
1989
The Montefiori Endowment is reformed and takes over the responsibility for the foundation from the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue.
1989
Brian Torode (a local non-Jew) publishes a detailed history of the Stroud and Cheltenham Jews.
1990
There is a Jewish population of 430.
1990
The Reform community start Cheder (Hebrew classes) at Bowland Street, as once again there were Jewish children in the community.
1990
A petrol bomb attack takes place on the home of Rabbi Shmuel Boteach - director of Oxford University L'Chaim society, and member of the Lubavitch movement. Arab extremists are blamed in the wake of the Hebron massacre.
1991
A service is held in the synagogue, the first Jewish service for 60 years.
1991
Anna Roden and Clive Wolman from London held their betrothal ceremony at Jews' Court, recreating the betrothal ceremony of Judith Belaset in 1271.
1991
There are seven Jewish heads of college, numerous Jewish fellows, and up to nine percent of students are Jewish.
1992
The Jewish Community of Lincoln is refounded. In November the LJC hold their first service at Jews' Court.
1992
Marcus Roberts identifies a site as the lost Jewish cemetery. On the day before Yom Kippur, a culvert collapses on the edge of this area, and up to five skeletons are recovered. The site is later confirmed as the lost Jewish cemetery.
1994
The Dover cemetery continues to be used for burials.
1995
There are 5,300 Jews in Brighton - some estimates place this figure over the 10,000 mark.
1995
The remains of what is thought to be the synagogue are discovered by local archaeologists (John Boas, Mary Alexander and Kevin Fryer) under Principals menswear shop in the High Street.
1996
Sheila Shaffer becomes first female mayor of Brighton and she appoints Rabbi Rosenbloom as town council chaplain.
1996
There is a small modern Jewish community with around 175 members. Controversy rages as to whether the newly discovered chamber is the relic of a medieval synagogue.
1996 - 1997
A Liberal Jewish community is re-established in Lincoln and holds services in an upper room of Jew's House. A plaque is placed in the upper room to celebrate the fact.
1996 circa
The last kosher butcher closes in Preston Street. The kosher slaughter house in Vine Street had closed about a decade earlier.
1997
The Brighton Jewish Film Festival, is founded by Judy Ironside.
1997
There are only two Jews left in Ramsgate. The Endowment has substantial assets still used to help the training of rabbinical students.
1998
There are some 70 Jews in Cheltenham.
1998
Descendants of the Jewish families still live in Sheerness, and Chasidim holiday on the empty beaches of Minster.
1998
Moyses Hall is an important tourist attraction and a museum.
1998
The medieval chamber is preserved in refurbished premises, now Dillons bookstore. There are plans to place it under a glass floor in the future. The County Archaeologist does not accept it is a Jewish structure, but many leading Jewish history experts believe it is.
1999
There is a furor over plans to redevelop the old college site, which is now waste-land.
2001
356 people in Bradford say they were Jewish.
2001
First circumcision, that of eight-day old Isaac Levi, is celebrated.
2002
First Bat Mitzvah at Jews Court -- Jane Rebekah.
2004
Di and Bernie Adler are married in Jews Court, the first Jewish wedding since that of Judith Belaset in 1275,
2005
JTrails the National Anglo-Jewish Heritage Trail is founded from Farthinghoe village by Marcus Roberts.
2008
5,000 Chasidic Jews converge on Ramsgate for the yahrzeit (anniversary) of Sir Moses Montefiore's death
2009
Today the Leeds Jewish community numbers less than 7,000 and there are c. 1,000 Jewish students at its two universities.
c. 1750
Jews almost certainly live in the town by this time serving the port, garrison and visitors.
c. 1762
A Henry Moses (Hirsch ben Moses Levi Dover (1734-79)) is admitted to membership of the Great Synagogue, London.
c. 1800
Barnet Nathan and Jacob Reuben of Dover (working as Chapmen) are listed in Masonic records.
c. 1839
Rabbi R.I.Cohen arrives in Dover, leads the community and founds a famous Jewish school, Sussex House, on the Folkestone Road. He swells the Jewish population by fifty or more during term time. Pupils are from England, Europe, Africa and Australia.
c. 1930
the senior members of the World War I Jewish family still remains in Stroud.
c.1765
This period is the height of Jewish patronage of the spa.
c.1770s - 1780s
An increasing number of Jews settle in the town and offer medical services to the rich. Others provide entertainments, fashion, art, or tutoring in languages. There is no organised Jewish community.
c.1780
Up to this point most Jewish visitors are Sephardim.
c.1810
There are two Jewish Green Grocers in Bath, trading in fruit, as well as Mr. M. Moses, a Jewish milkman (of 1 Juda Place, Snow Hill).
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