The North

The North

Durham, Northumberland & Yorkshire

The first Jews to arrive in Sunderland came in the mid-18^th century. The Jewish cemetery was in use by about 1770. By the early 19^th century there were two distinct communities, but by 1853 the Polish community had dwindled to near extinction. The 1870s saw another big influx of Jewry to Sunderland. The population peaked at about 1000 around the turn of the century. Today Sunderland has less that 50 Jews. Sunderland Jewry is alive and well but has emigrated west or south or abroad.

The York community was massacred in 1190. A century later, in 1290, all Jews were expelled from England under pain of death or conversion. Oliver Cromwell revoked this expulsion edict in 1656. Jews often arrived through Hull port. The Leeds Jewish community was late compared to most other communities to be established. The first cemetery opened in 1840. Most Leeds Jewry settled in Leylands.

Huddersfield Leeds

Research Favourites

After the success of Cheshire BMD Yorkshire has now begun its own version. Some Jewish marriage records from Hull are already up. These records have the advantage of telling you the names of both partners in a marriage. Use this site followed by free BMD to narrow down a quarter of a year, or order directly from the local registrar without the errors of the GRO Index. http://www.YorkshireBMD.org.uk

The Kehilat Middlesbrough Website is at www.kehilat-middlesbrough.org/news.htm It
includes the cemetery records for the two Middlesbrough Cemeteries, as well as those for Hartlepool and Stockton. In the case of the last, photos of all the stones are on line. There are also many historical photos.

Bradford Central Library Local Studies telephone 01274 753661 or email public.libraries@bradford.gov.uk

Bradford (left)

Newcastle (right)

Records for Hull [actually Kingston Upon Hull] are detailed on www.hullcc.gov.uk/libraries/local_studies/index.php

www.leeds.go.co.uk/ will take you to information about Leeds Libraries, photographs, absent voters lists and wealth of other information. leeds@wyashq.demon.co.uk is for the Leeds branch of West Yorkshire Archives Services. Replace Leeds in the address with another town if necessary.

The expert on Hull is Judge Israel Finestein, who has certainly written
on the subject. (Submitted by Michael Sayers)

Graham Wilkinson is the leading authority on and researcher of "Forgotten
Hull #1 and #2" and can be contacted via e-mail at graham@wilkinson1.karoo.co.uk
Photo number 1231 in the catalogue of his "Forgotten Hull" photographs is a view of the east side of Porter St. showing nos. 3 to 13. Names listed include: Hymen RUBINSTEIN, dentist; Frank MYERS; John JONOFSKY, egg dealer; and George GOMOVSKY, egg dealer.

Derek & Rosemary Wenzerul suggest the following sites: www.northeastjewish.org.uk which is the "home" for the Jewish Community of Newcastle and surrounding areas. The web site of the Tyne and Wear Archive Service (TWAS) may also be of interest - even the list of archives held is useful http://www.thenortheast.com/archives/UserGuides/08_Jewish.html#sect2

or try this:

http://www.thenortheast.com/archives/UserGuides/08_Jewish.html (thanks to Miriam Margolyes and Stephen Mednick)

http://www.brianjoneswry.com/ for private research (paid) at Wakefield. [recommended by Jane Lachs]

If you think something else should go here please mail the webmaster sherry.landa@virgin.net