Rare local example of Jewish history gains grade II listing.

06/04/2006

A Jewish cemetery in Bath has been awarded Grade II Listed status by the Secretary of State because of its special architectural and historical interest.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is now working with community groups to help protect this piece of the city’s history.

The Bath Jewish Burial Ground on Bradford Road in Combe Down is one of only 15 Jewish cemeteries in the country to survive from the Georgian period. It is also notable for the survival of its Ohel (Hebrew for chapel) and two chest tombs.

The site dates back to 1812 when Bath’s Jewish community bought the small plot of land. Including the two chest tombs, there are about 50 gravestones, dated between 1842 and 1921, bearing both Hebrew and English inscriptions. The rectangular cemetery is surrounded by a high stone wall and is accessed via an iron gate off Greendown Place. To the right of the gate is the small Ohel built in about 1836, with a simple plank door, fireplace and sash window.

While the burial ground has suffered a period of neglect since its closure in the early 20th century, the tombstones, walls, gate and Ohel remain essentially intact, and serve as an important reminder of Bath’s past Jewish community.

Cllr Gerry Curran, Executive Member for Sustainability and the Environment said: “This is a very special and atmospheric site and serves as an enduring symbol of Bath’s past Jewish community.

“The grade II listing is in recognition of the site’s great historical and architectural significance and will ensure its future is safeguarded.

“Bath & North East Somerset Council is pleased to see one of Bath’s hidden gems recognised in this way and fully supports the Friends efforts to restore and promote this important example of our religious heritage.”

The community’s first synagogue was located in a former theatre at 19 Kingsmead Street in about 1821. A new synagogue was later built in Corn Street and dedicated in 1841, but was closed by 1911 as the congregation had declined in number. Neither of these buildings survives as both sites were later redeveloped.

The Combe Down Heritage Society has been carrying out research for some years and, in collaboration with the local Jewish community, the Board of Deputies of British Jews (the site owners), and Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Historic Environment Team established a Friends of Bath Jewish Burial Ground. The Friends aims is to promote further interest in the burial ground and secure funding to both restore and interpret this important site.

Alex Schlesinger, Chairman of the Friends of Bath Jewish Burial Ground, said: “Many faith communities do experience problems in maintaining old burial grounds and their associated buildings.

“Both the Jewish communities in Bristol, as well as Jewish community members living in Bath, have expressed their support for the outlined proposals for the old Jewish burial ground at Combe Down, and there have also been very welcome offers of practical assistance.”

The Bath Jewish Burial Ground will now join more than 6,000 other listed buildings in Bath and North East Somerset that are protected by this designation.