The Central Jewish Synagogue, Great Portland-Street, [London], 1870. 'The design is Moresque...The blocks of the massive horseshoe arch...are ornamented in relief; and the keystone bears, in Hebrew, the following inscription, taken from the prayer of King Solomon at the dedication of the Temple, "Thy people shall pray and make supplication unto Thee in this house"...The interior is very striking; the loftiness of its proportions commands reverence...On each side the pews rise one behind the other, so that the congregation face the nave, in which, midway from the two ends, is the "almemar," a raised platform occupied by the minister, the choristers, and a few of the chief members of the synagogue...The galleries, which run round three sides of the building, are supported by pillars. From the richly-moulded capitals of a second tier of columns spring circular arches...The daylight is softened by transmission through large windows of stained glass, and numerous burners provide for the effective illumination of the building by night...The whole building has been erected by Messrs. Perry and Co.,...from the designs and under the superintendence of Mr. N. S. Joseph, architect'. The building was destroyed in a bombing raid in 1941. From "Illustrated London News", 1870.
World Europe United Kingdom England Greater London London City of Westminster Westminster
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