The Jewish Chronicle in London runs a disturbing article about the landmark listed former synagogue in Sunderland, in northern England, which “now stands blighted by drug dealers, arsonists and metal thieves. There are swastikas around its ark, daubed by illegal ravers who partied in the Grade II listed building.” A photo show the ark partially smashed and broken.
The article, by Jonathan Kalmus, details how the synagogue, designed in Byzantine and Art Deco style by Newcastle architect Marcus K. Glass and built in 1928, is regarded by both the English Heritage and Jewish Heritage UK as an “at risk” place of worship, with a row over its heritage status blocking either restoration or development.
The synagogue once served a congregation of 1,500, but after the membership dwindled to a score of people, the building was sold in 2006 and then resold in 2009. Its red brick facade features a big central arch over a double-arched portal. A movie was shot there earlier this year.
Jewish Heritage UK writes about the building:
Sunderland’s last remaining synagogue held its final service in 2006. Sold to Jewish developers, the building stood vacant for years in a town which was once a bastion of Jewish Orthodoxy. It was vandalised and the schoolhouse next door (Cyril Gillis 1936) was gutted by fire. Finally, in 2010 the synagogue was purchased by a neighbouring builder but no plans for redevelopment have yet been submitted. The unlisted sister Clapton Federation Synagogue in London, also by Glass, closed in May 2005 and was demolished by Jewish developers in July 2006.
Its latest owner, Kalmus writes, a local property developer named George Fraser, wants to “preserve the exterior and convert it into 12 luxury apartments” but the Sunderland City Council has not OK’d the plan, in large part because of the building’s status as a Grade II listed building.
Mr Fraser has overseen the conversion of the former synagogue’s adjoining cheder building into residential homes. However, he claims that having spent £180,000 preserving the main synagogue, he can spend no more.
“It was full of drug-takers, squatters. There was fly-tipping, and not just rubbish, things like asbestos,” he reported. “There were rave parties in the main synagogue hall and squatters lived in the caretaker’s accommodation. I’ve put in new fences, CCTV and protect it with security guards. But the roof is leaking now.
He writes that
In a lengthy statement, Sunderland City Council cabinet secretary Councillor Mel Spedding, who is responsible for planning strategy, said the authority was committed to preserving the city’s cultural heritage, including the former synagogue. But he added: “We feel that redeveloping the interior space of the former synagogue for residential apartments is inappropriate and we have never received a planning application for this type of conversion.
“We are always happy to talk to the owner of this listed building to discuss its future and would invite him or the property consultant to contact us directly again.”
Architectural description of the Synagogue