Basic Site Details Name: | Graham Street Synagogue | City or county: | Edinburgh | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | | Grid ref: | | Notes: | The adaptation and conversion of Greyfriars Free Church
EDINBURGH - The consecration of the new synagogue, Graham-street, by the Very Rev. Dr Adler, Chief Rabbi, from London, took place on Sunday week. With the £4,000 the Jewish congregation received from the corporation for their old synagogue in Park-place they purchased the new Greyfriars Free Church, Graham-street, for £2, 400, and the balance of the money has been expended in making the interior suitable for the purposes of Jewish worship. Formerly the pulpit stood at the west end of the church, and the seats were arranged accordingly; but the fact that the ark and the pulpit had to be at the east end necessitated an entire reconstruction of the interior. The centre of the design is a reading desk set on a platform in the centre of the area. It has brass rails. The pews slope upward from it on the north, south, and west sides. As no gallery is available for the ladies, space has accordingly been appropriated on the west side of the synagogue, raised, and inclosed with a light brass grill of Oriental pattern. It has a separate entrance. On the east side, on a raised dais and set close to the wall, is the ark. It takes the form of an Oriental baldachino, with pillars at the opening, and having overhead a golden dome and lantern. It is painted in cream, gold, and green colours. The synagogue is seated for 250 men and 130 women. The architect for the reconstruction was W. N. Thomson, Leith. [Building News 25 February 1898 p270]
| Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes | | Synagogue | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes | | Graham Street | Yes | |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes | | 1897 | 1898 | Alteration/conversion | Conversion from Church |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionThe following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column. | | Name | Role | Partnership Group | From | To | Notes | | William Nicholas Thomson | | | 1897 | 1898 | Conversion from church |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Kadish, Sharman | 2011 | The Synagogues of Britain and Ireland | | Newhaven & London: Yale | p301 | | Kenna and Mooney | 1983 | People's Palaces | | | p133 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 26 February 2898 | | | p213 - consecration | | Building News | 25 February 1898 | | | p270 - consecration |
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