About
250 years of Jewish Brighton & Hove
The history of Jewish Brighton & Hove: from a set of rooms in Jew Street to the Hub on New Church Road, more than 250 years of Jewish life in the city.
The first Jewish resident of Brighton is recorded in 1766. The first synagogue was a set of rooms in a house in Jew Street. Since then the community has moved west into Hove, built synagogues in three traditions, and in 2023 came back to a rebuilt site on New Church Road.
Open any entry to read more. Each one says where its facts come from.
Year by year
1766 to 1792
The 1700s
A first resident, then a first synagogue in a set of rooms in Jew Street.
The first Jewish resident is recordedA silversmith named Israel Samuel is recorded as living in East Street, Brighton.
The first synagogue opens in Jew StreetThe first place of worship is a set of rooms in a house in Jew Street, in the Lanes.
The street is said to take its name from the Jewish tinkers who worked there. Some sources give 1800 for the date.
Sources: Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation timeline; JCR-UK, Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation
1808 to 1875
The 1800s
Synagogues come and go, then a purpose-built one and a burial ground. Middle Street opens in 1875.
A second synagogue, in Poune’s CourtA synagogue moves to Poune’s Court, a short lane off West Street.
The congregation’s own timeline dates it to 1802; the earliest map to show it is from 1808. The congregation closed for lack of numbers in 1813 and was re-formed in West Street in 1821.
Sources: JCR-UK, Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation; Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation timeline
The Brighton Hebrew Congregation is establishedDevonshire Place becomes Brighton’s first purpose-built synagogue.
The synagogue at Devonshire Place was built in 1824 and 1825 by the local builder Benjamin Bennett, and was remodelled later by the architect David Mocatta.
Sources: JCR-UK, Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation; Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation timeline
The Florence Place burial groundThe burial ground at Florence Place is given to the congregation.
A plaque at the entrance records it as the gift of Thomas Read Kemp to the Congregation of the Brighton Synagogue, dated 5576 in the Jewish calendar and 1826.
Source: My Brighton and Hove (local history site), from the plaque at the entrance
CommunityThe Brighton Hebrew Philanthropic Society is foundedA charity is founded to relieve poor Jewish residents. It later becomes the Jewish Welfare Board.
Middle Street Synagogue is consecratedDesigned by Thomas Lainson, the synagogue is consecrated on 23 September 1875.
It was later richly decorated with gifts from families including the Rothschilds and the Sassoons. It has been Grade II* listed since 1971.
1918 to 1967
The 1900s
Families move west into Hove. A Progressive congregation is founded in 1935, the New Church Road synagogue opens in 1961 and the Reform synagogue on Palmeira Avenue in 1967.
The congregation becomes Brighton & HoveThe reconstituted congregation takes the name it still holds, as families move west into Hove.
ProgressiveBrighton & Hove Progressive Synagogue is foundedA Progressive congregation, at first called Liberal, is founded in Brighton and Hove. It now worships at 6 Lansdowne Road in Hove.
The foundation stone is laidOn 14 December 1958 the foundation stone is laid for a purpose-built synagogue on New Church Road.
Until then, services for Hove had been held in halls around the town, including the Bernard Baron Memorial Hall and the YMCA Hall in Marmion Road.
The New Church Road synagogue is consecratedOn 9 July 1961 Chief Rabbi Sir Israel Brodie opens and consecrates the new synagogue.
ReformThe Reform synagogue opens on Palmeira AvenueBrighton & Hove Reform Synagogue, formed in 1955, consecrates its synagogue on Palmeira Avenue on 10 September 1967.
The synagogue is known for its Holocaust memorial windows by the artist John Petts.
2004 to 2025
The 2000s
Middle Street closes for regular services. The New Church Road site is rebuilt, and in 2023 the Hub opens.
Middle Street closes for regular servicesMiddle Street Synagogue stops holding regular services. It is still used for weddings, choral events and open days.
ProgressiveThe Progressive synagogue reopens at Lansdowne RoadThe rebuilt synagogue at 6 Lansdowne Road reopens for the congregation.
Sources: Liberal Judaism; JCR-UK
250 years of Jewish Brighton & HoveThe 250th anniversary of the first recorded Jewish presence in Brighton & Hove is marked with a programme of events through 2016.
The anthology Brighton Jewry: An Anthology of the Brighton & Hove Jewish Community 1766-2016 was published for the anniversary.
Sources: Jewish News, 13 July 2016; Jewish Historical Society of England, Sussex branch
The project to rebuild New Church Road beginsThe project is launched with support from The Bloom Foundation, in partnership with Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation.
Source: Brighton and Hove News, 21 June 2023
The old synagogue closes for rebuildingThe New Church Road synagogue closes for major redevelopment.
Until March 2023, services were held at Pembroke Crescent and at Ralli Hall in Hove.
Sources: JCR-UK, Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation; Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation timeline
The Hub opensServices return to New Church Road on Shabbat, 4 March 2023, to the newly rebuilt Hub.
The Hub brings a synagogue, a mikveh, 45 new homes and community, commercial and co-working spaces together on one site.
Sources: JCR-UK, Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation; Brighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation timeline
The Chief Rabbi officially opens the HubThe Hub is officially opened by the Chief Rabbi, after three years of construction.
Source: Brighton and Hove News, 21 June 2023
The congregation is 200 years oldBrighton & Hove Hebrew Congregation marks 200 years since its establishment in 1824.
ReformThe Reform synagogue is listed Grade IIHistoric England lists the Palmeira Avenue synagogue at Grade II.
Sources: Regency Society; Twentieth Century Society
The story carries on at the Hub
A synagogue, a mikveh, homes and community spaces now share one site on New Church Road. Come to a service, a class or a meal, or meet the people who look after the place.
A date, a photograph or a family story missing from here? Tell the team and it can be added.