Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
'This building - it is quite the most amazing found object..'
Visit London's Museum of Immigration and Settlement
At 19 Princelet Street, just off Brick Lane, on one of the prettiest streets in London, is a beautiful house with a rich history which it is hoped one day will become London's first Museum of Immigration and Settlement.
Built in 1719 by a family of Huguenot silk weavers, who were fleeing religious persecution in France, the building was subsequently home to Irish immigrants and later became a synagogue in 1869. It was here that the Jewish families of East London, who had arrived fleeing the pogroms in Eastern Europe, came to worship.
Nowadays, of course, it is the Bangladeshi community who live and work in the area, and the Georgian houses in the surrounding streets are also home to artists like Gilbert and George, and Tracey Emin. The plans to convert the house into a museum of London's immigration are, however, severely lacking in funds and need £3m in funding to even do the necessary work to repair it.
That said, however, the building is an absolute gem and is now owned by the Spitalfields Centre Charity, but due to it's fragility is only open to the public for a few days each year, including the annual London Open House weekend in September. The house is a short walk from Liverpool Street. For more information on the building, and when it is open, visit their website.
There's an annoying page on the site where they talk about group visits and suggested donations - then get granular about amounts and 100% loss of deposit for cancellation. It's a fee; fine, not unfair, but I wish they'd be honest enough just call a spade a spade.
Actually looks like the street may be quite interesting. Here's a pic of another 18th Century building in the same street.
(Thanks to Tired of London for the info above and to M. J. Maccardini for the pic.)
At 19 Princelet Street, just off Brick Lane, on one of the prettiest streets in London, is a beautiful house with a rich history which it is hoped one day will become London's first Museum of Immigration and Settlement.
Built in 1719 by a family of Huguenot silk weavers, who were fleeing religious persecution in France, the building was subsequently home to Irish immigrants and later became a synagogue in 1869. It was here that the Jewish families of East London, who had arrived fleeing the pogroms in Eastern Europe, came to worship.
Nowadays, of course, it is the Bangladeshi community who live and work in the area, and the Georgian houses in the surrounding streets are also home to artists like Gilbert and George, and Tracey Emin. The plans to convert the house into a museum of London's immigration are, however, severely lacking in funds and need £3m in funding to even do the necessary work to repair it.
That said, however, the building is an absolute gem and is now owned by the Spitalfields Centre Charity, but due to it's fragility is only open to the public for a few days each year, including the annual London Open House weekend in September. The house is a short walk from Liverpool Street. For more information on the building, and when it is open, visit their website.
There's an annoying page on the site where they talk about group visits and suggested donations - then get granular about amounts and 100% loss of deposit for cancellation. It's a fee; fine, not unfair, but I wish they'd be honest enough just call a spade a spade.
Actually looks like the street may be quite interesting. Here's a pic of another 18th Century building in the same street.
(Thanks to Tired of London for the info above and to M. J. Maccardini for the pic.)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by james walsh on
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'something to offend everyone in this play'
Was it written by benny Hill ?
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Permalink Reply by OneWomanAndHerDog on
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It is quite the most extraordinary place Hugh. Sadly, the Trust seems to have been searching for funds for as long as I've know it (at least 15 years!). I don't think it was ever a mosque, it simply shut down when there was no longer a minyan (the number of adult men required to hold a service).
Caroline is quite right though: the wonderful building on the corner of Folgate and Brick Lane which is now a mosque was once a synagogue and prior to that was built as non-conformist chapel - as if its become an architectural biography to the communities that have passed through. It used to have very beautiful wood paneling inside but this was sadly removed by owners who didn't understand its listed status.
I'd recommend going to Princelet Street on a Jewish Heritage Open Day when you can also visit the few remaining 'working' synagogues in that part of town. The lovely, modest Sandys Row and the magnificent Bevis Marks make for a fascinating contrast.
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Yes, we would love to visit this place and yes a Saturday would be good.
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Shurely not a shaterday itsh the shabbash innit ?
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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Only four of us apparently are up for a Harringay visit - that's 16 short of what we'd need. So the oprn days suggested above (thanks) seem to be the best option.
I wrote to ask about any forthcoming open days and have copied in the reply I received below:
From: valerie2bello@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: Re: Princelet Street
To: hugh@isp.co.uk
Date: Sunday, 17 May, 2009, 4:08 PM Dear Hugh,
Thank you very much for your enquiry about the opening of Princelet Street Synagogue during the European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage which this year will be held from Sunday 6th - Wednesday 16th September.
I am afraid Princelet Street will not be opening for the Jewish Heritage Days but will probably be participating in London Open House, Sunday 20th September.
However, other synagogues will be opening in the East End of London, as follows:
Bevis Marks 6th & 13th September 10.30 am - 12. 30 pm
East London Central Synagogue 6th & 13th September 12 noon - 3 pm
(Nelson Street)
(N.B. On 13th September, the AGM of the Jewish East End Celebration Society will be
held, at Nelson Streret, followed by a lecture on poet/painter Isaac Rosenberg and Vivi Lachs and band with'Traditional Songs of the Jewish East End'.)
Fieldgate Street Great Synagogue 6th September 10 am - 3 pm
Sandy's Row 6th September 10 am - 5 pm
13th September 10 am - 4 pm
If you would like us to send you a leaflet giving full details of the whole 10 days' programme, please let me have your address. Leaflets will be sent out at the end of June/beginning of July.
Thank you for your interest.
Valerie Bello
Joint B'nai B'rith UK Coordinator for the European Days of Jewish Culture and Heritage.
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