Plaque

Spanish and Portuguese Jews - 1

Inscription

This building, erected in 1912, formerly housed the Beth Holim, or hospital, and old people's home of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation.
The hospital, founded in 1748, was first established in Leman Street, E1, then in 1790 was transferred to this site. In 1977 it was removed to Forty Avenue, Wembley where it now flourishes.
Behind this building lies the first cemetery of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews who fled from the persecution of the Spanish and Portuguese inquisition to find religious toleration and freedom in this realm.
They formed in the City of London in 1656 the Congregation called 'sha'arhashamayim', the Gate of Heaven, which is still in existence. It was the first professing Jewish community in the British Isles to be established in modern times and formed the origin of the present Jewish community of Britain as a whole.

For admission to the Old Cemetery of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews apply to:- The Secretary, Spanish & Portuguese Jews Congregation, 2 Ashworth Road W9.

Site: Spanish and Portuguese Jews Hospital (3 memorials)

E1, Mile End Road, 253, Albert Stern House

Built as a hospital and old people’s home. The facade is in the style of an early 18th century house but it was built 1912-13, by Castello, also the row of cottages behind, both overlooking the Old Velho Sephardic Jewish cemetery.  The style of the façade references the time when Jews were readmitted into England.  See the Listing statement for more details.

The hospital moved out to Wembley in 1977. 2013: This building is owned by Queen Mary College and used as student accommodation, as is the building immediately to the east, Ifor Evans Place. 

It's not clear but we think this building may be the only access route through to the Sephardi Velho (Old) Cemetery (also known as Spanish and Portuguese Jews Cemetery) immediately to the north.

Parks and Gardens has: "The Old Burial Ground lies behind Albert Stern House and is shown as 'Jews Burying Place' on Joel Gascoyne's 1703 map. The cemetery was enclosed by high brick walls on all sides, and a stone tablet on the north wall is inscribed in Portuguese, reading in translation ‘the first stone of this wall was laid on 21 Tamuz or 7 June 1684'. ...  Spanish and Portuguese Jews came to this country fleeing from religious persecution and established themselves in Mile End in 1656.

"The Sephardi Velho (Old) Cemetery opened in 1657, the first Jewish cemetery to be established with Oliver Cromwell's approval. The land was formerly part of a garden and orchard. It was extended in 1670 and again in 1684 and eventually closed in 1737 after it was full, when a new cemetery opened nearby, the Sephardi Nuevo (New) Cemetery.... The Beth Holim or Hospital and Old People's Home of Spanish and Portuguese Jews moved here in 1790, with the cemetery used partly as a garden. In 1912 Albert Stern House was built and in 1977 Beth Holim moved to Wembley ...."

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Spanish and Portuguese Jews - 1

Subjects commemorated i

Jewish expulsion and resettlement

In 1290 Edward I expelled Jews from England and for centuries, apart from tho...

Read More

Beth Holim / Spanish and Portuguese Jewish hospital

This institution, Beth Holim, originated in Leman Street in 1748, moving to M...

Read More

Spanish & Portuguese Jews' Congregation

Initially called 'sha'arhashamayim', the Gate of Heaven, this was the first p...

Read More

Old Velho / First Jewish cemetery

From London Gardens Online : "The Sephardi Velho (Old) Cemetery opened in 165...

Read More

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Spanish and Portuguese Jews - 1

Also at this site i

Spanish and Portuguese Jews - 2

Spanish and Portuguese Jews - 2

The Jewish calendar has a different start year (hence the "5425 - 1665") 3,76...

Read More

Spanish and Portuguese Jews Hospital - foundation

Spanish and Portuguese Jews Hospital - foundation

This stone was laid by Edward Lumbrozo Mocatta Esqre. Treasurer on 9 Adar (Ri...

Read More

Nearby Memorials

Lord Delfont

Lord Delfont

SW1, Coventry Street, Prince of Wales Theatre

In our photo the Delfont plaque is just to the left of the white van, though when we photographed it it was high up on the building. Grac...

2 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Northern Line (part) centenary - Belsize Park

Northern Line (part) centenary - Belsize Park

NW3, Haverstock Hill, Belsize Park tube station

The small Seaward plaque is on the green door. The Northern Line plaque is immediately inside the entrance to the tube, on the left.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Our Lady of Willesden - WW1

Our Lady of Willesden - WW1

NW10, Acton Lane, Our Lady of Willesden RC church

The names are listed on two panels either side of the door but that to the right, east, is too weather-worn to be legible. We were gratef...

War dead | WW1
44 subjects commemorated
Rosa Lewis

Rosa Lewis

SW1, Jermyn Street, 81, The Cavendish Hotel

City of Westminster Rosa Lewis, 1867 - 1952, chef de cuisine and hotelier, dramatised as 'The Duchess of Duke Street', ruled the Cavendis...

3 subjects commemorated, 1 creator
Lockerbie bench - 01 - crew

Lockerbie bench - 01 - crew

TW9, Kew Gardens

We have numbered these 17 plaques, anti-clockwise, starting from the plaque for the whole crew which faces the water. Oddly, the last two...

1 subject commemorated

Previously viewed

Greenman Street Baths

Greenman Street Baths

N1, Tibby Place

We could find no plaque or information board explaining this very unusual construction.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
Ian William Sargent

Ian William Sargent

N6, Waterlow Park

In loving memory of Ian William Sargent, 23rd Jan 1967 - 24th Nov 2001. Your energy and enthusiasm will be my strength.

1 subject commemorated
Plaque 4 - Toms

Plaque 4 - Toms

SW18, Chapel Yard, 2, Clore Building

Currently, 2011, used by the National Opera as a studio. The current building is a hall, opened in 1883, with a total of 6 plaques all on...

1 subject commemorated