Cheetham Road – Manchester Jewish Museum

Manchester is one of the most recent cities to establish a Spanish & Portuguese community. Theirs was inaugurated in 1874 along Cheetham Hill Road in North Manchester. Jews first arrived in Manchester in the late 1700s, and an Ashkenazi synagogue was established in the nineteenth century. However, it wasn’t until the end of the nineteenth century that there were sufficient Sephardic families to create their own community. Whilst some of the founders came from London, many came from other Mediterranean Sephardic communities and from the East. That ethnically diverse heritage is reflected in the oriental features of their S&P synagogue.

Cheetham Road

As Jews relocated to other parts of Manchester, the community decided in 1984 to rededicate the synagogue to the establishment of a Manchester Jewish history museum. The museum is now in the process of restoring elements of the synagogue to their original condition, though I also found it beautiful in its authentic used state. In addition, the museum displays many interesting photographs and Judaica items.

Moor Lane

Moor Lane

Moor Lane WWI Memorial Plaque

Antony Hodari in his boyhood seat at Cheetham Road S&P