Middle Street Historic Synagogue
The first known Jewish inhabitant of Brighton was Israel Samuels who was recorded as a resident in 1766/7. The community was established with the arrival in 1782 of Emanuel Hyam Cohen, a Rhienlander who married a local woman Hannah Benjamin and with her raised ten children.
Brighton's first Jewish house of worship was a rather humble meeting place in Jew Street
(c.1792). Around 1800 the community moved to Pounces Court (now demolished) off West
Street.
In 1825 a new Synagogue was created in Devonshire Place. The façade remains and the words 'Jews Synagogue' can still just be seen below the pediment. (The building is now an apartment development) It was rebuilt by David Mocatta in 1838. As a result of the community's growth and the need for more central facilities the present site was bought in 1874 and the new building consecrated in 1875.
The project had been put out to tender, the work going to Thomas Lainson, surveyor of Hove's Wick Estate. Lainson was not Jewish - this was not unusual as many High Victorian (and even earlier) synagogue builders were Gentiles.
When the synagogue was built the interior walls were plain (maybe even undecorated) and
the only coloured glass (as far as we know) amber panels above the Ark. Gradually all the
windows were replaced by the beautiful abstract patterns we see today. Many were donated
by the Sassoon family - major benefactors to the community. Two notable exceptions are
those dedicated to Hannah (nee Rothschild, 1851-90), wife of Archibald Primrose, Earl of
Rosebery (Prime Minister 1894/5).
The decor benefited from Sassoon generosity in other ways (see plaques in the foyer). Importantly, the family's interest in the then new science of electricity almost certainly resulted in the installation of electric lighting here. Middle Street was the first such place of worship to be so equipped (1892).
Although Middle Street preserves many design features found in synagogues since
antiquity, its basilican shape gives it an Italian Romanesque quality just one example of the
late Victorian affinity for the past. The balanced interaction between this calm classicism
and the later rich decorative scheme is remarkable and makes Middle Street one of the
finest small European synagogues of any era. The Synagogue has a Grade II* listing for its
interior which is officially described as "an extremely sumptuous example of late 19th
century craftsmanship"
We hope you enjoy your visit! Please tell all you friends about us and encourage them
to come and experience this wonderful historic building for themselves. We are happy
to give private tours to groups, schools, art schools, religious groups etc upon request.