1710
A synagogue exists at this time according to Madame Otterbourg, daughter of the famous Dover Rabbi, R.I.Cohen
1768-1818
Rabbi Ash records a number of circumcisions and marriages in Dover and elsewhere in Kent.
1770
Three Jewish, summer visitors organise a congregation in Dover.
1792
A Dover trade directory lists a small number of Jewish Silversmiths (including a Henry Moses) and shopkeepers.
1814
Moses Moses is a licensed Navy agent in Dover.
1825
Moses Levy of Frankfort is appointed shochet or kosher slaughterer in Dover.
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.
1836
The new synagogue is opened in Hawkesbury Street.
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.
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.
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.
1863
Rabbi R.I.Cohen founds a new and larger synagogue at Northampton street, partly built over a tunnel for the River Dour.
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.
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.
1867
Rabbi Barnstein succeeds Rabbi Neumann and serves the community for 50 years.
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.
1873
Sir George Jessel becomes Master of the Rolls and resigns his seat in Parliament.
1874
Alderman Henry Hart of Canterbury opens a business in Dover, part of an expanding chain of shops.
1887
Five Jews die in the famous shipwreck of the W.A. Sholten.
1894
There are around 12 Jewish families in Dover mostly situated in Snargate Street.
1910
The Jewish population is c.116.
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.
1920
The Jewish population has dropped to 40 due to a war induced depression of the local economy.
1921
Henry Hart, a community leader, dies
1925
Rabbi Barnstein dies and is buried at Liverpool.
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.
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.
1994
The Dover cemetery continues to be used for burials.
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.
Stories(0)
Articles(1)
Letters(2)
Books(0)
Video(0)
Audio(0)
Photos(12)
Memories(0)
Comments(0)
Post a Comment
Submit to this trail
Celebrities(0)
Profiles(0)