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© Mr Andrew C. Letchford
IoE Number:
473229
Location:
SYNAGOGUE, CATHERINE STREET (west side)
PLYMOUTH, PLYMOUTH, DEVON
Photographer:
Mr Andrew C. Letchford
Date Photographed:
07 July 2002
Date listed:
25 January 1954
Date of last amendment:
25 January 1954
Grade
II*
The Images of England website consists of images of listed buildings based on the statutory list as it was in 2001 and does not incorporate subsequent amendments to the list. For the statutory list and information on the current listed status of individual buildings please go to The National Heritage List for England.
PLYMOUTH
SX4754 CATHERINE STREET, Plymouth
740-1/57/358 (West side)
25/01/54 Synagogue
GV II*
Synagogue. Founded 1762, remodelled interior 1862 and to front
and rear after 1874. Stuccoed walls; dry slate roof with coped
gable ends; stepped acroterion to front gable. Rectangular
aisle-less plan.
EXTERIOR: single storey; 2-windows to front end with oculus
with star of David above; 3 windows to each side, all
round-arched windows with coloured leaded glass, and 2-storey
entrance end with 4 windows within eared architraves to 1st
floor. 3 segmental arched doorways with continuous cornice
consoles.
INTERIOR: virtually complete C18 interior with latticed
women's gallery with thin iron columns, extended to N and S
sides in 1862; 2 fluted Corinthian columns flanking an arch
filled with a coffered pattern and with large urns to the
entablature; the Bimah to centre surrounded by C18 turned
balustrade surmounted by 8 original brass candlesticks;
original pine benches; carved wooden ark, lavishly decorated
and gilded, and set of silver bells.
This is the oldest English Ashkenazi synagogue, and in a
national context is a remarkable example which both predates
and is more complete than any other synagogues.
(The Buildings of England: Pevsner N: Devon: London: 1989-:
648).