Why Bradford is such a good ambassador
Tour guide Nigel Grizzard takes us on a Jewish Heritage trip to the city
RADFORD WAS in the s p o t l i g h t r e c e n t l y when the Israel’s UK Ambassador, Daniel Taub, popped over to the Yorkshire city at the invitation of community members.
He spent most of his time chatting to faith and civic leaders. But had he had more time to explore, he would have found that the city has a substantial Jewish heritage — including four mayors between 1864 and 1984.
Near the city centre is the historic Merchant Quarter, Little Germany, with one of the largest collections of historic warehouses in Britain.
Many of these were built for German Jewish merchants in the 1870s who came to Bradford to make the city the Wool Capital of the World. On Peckover Street is Merchant’s House, once the headquarters of Moser and Edelstein. Philanthropist Jacob Moser, was Lord Mayor of Bradford and a founder of the Herzliya Gymnasia, the first Hebrew High School in Tel Aviv.
His partner, Victor Edelstein, was German Consul in Bradford and a member of the Ilkley Bridge Company where his name is listed on the plaque in Ilkley where the bridge crosses the River Wharfe.
Around the corner on East Parade, the name of S L Behrens can be seen in the ironwork.
JacobUnna,anativeof Hamburgand founder member of Bradford’s Chamber of Commerce in 1851 was Behren’s manager, and among his descendants, was Dame Peggy Ashcroft.
Off Manningham Lane, a mile from the city centre, there is the site of the first Orthodox Synagogue in the city in Spring Gardens, in use as a synagogue from 1906 -1970, now an Islamic Primary School.
In Bowland Street is the Bradford Synagogue, a fine Moorish-designed structure, opened in 1881 and still in use.
The Grade II listed building, is counted as one of the top ten historic UK synagogues by Jewish Heritage.
Further into the suburb of Manningham there are the historic villas of the German Jewish merchants, the former Kindertransporte Hostel at Parkfield Road and the winding street of Heaton Grove with its unique collection of individually designed houses.
Four miles from the centre is the suburb of Saltaire with the enormous Salt’s Mill.
Bought in 1986 as an empty building by the Bradford-born entrepreneur, the late Jonathan Silver, the mill hosts the 1853 Hockney Art Gallery, an exhibition about his life and many other fascinating exhibits, together with Salt’s Diner, a well known eaterie and meeting place.
www.bradfordjewish.org.uk