Guildford Medieval Synagogue
Chamber Rating
-
grazvydas stanaitis
Aug 12th, 2019 -
Alex Goldberg
Oct 12th, 2017
Contact Info
Questions & Answers
Q Where is Guildford Medieval Synagogue located?
A Guildford Medieval Synagogue is located at 50-54 High St, Guildford, eng GU1 3ES
Q What is the internet address for Guildford Medieval Synagogue?
A The website (URL) for Guildford Medieval Synagogue is: http://www.guildfordjewish.com/
Q How is Guildford Medieval Synagogue rated?
A Guildford Medieval Synagogue has a 4.0 Star Rating from 2 reviewers.
Ratings and Reviews
Guildford Medieval Synagogue
Overall Rating
Overall Rating
( 2 Reviews )
grazvydas stanaitis on Google
Alex Goldberg on Google
The chamber was discovered in 1995 when excavations where taking place on the site.
Archaeologists discovered a chamber with steps down from street level. It was ornately decorated with pattern designs. In the East of the room is an alcove and a pillar where scorch marks demonstrate that a light was often burning in this place. The assumption is that the alcove is the Aron Kodesh (Holy Ark) and the mark is left from a Ner Tamid (Everlasting Light).
Being the only chamber of its kind in England, there has been much dispute over its use, but the most popular theory and all the evidence points towards the probability that Guildford has the oldest synagogue remains in the British Isles and one of the oldest in Western Europe.
Artefacts were recovered from the site by Guildford Museum.
Whilst 20 years have passed since the discover, unfortunately, the actual chamber is under concrete, although both the owners of the site and commentators have expressed their regret at not having a glass floor!
