Bevis Marks modelled on Amsterdam? Or Bridgetown?

Bevis Marks (above)

Nidhe Israel (below)

Note: Bevis Marks had light oak woodwork until it was given a mahogany effect varnish in the Victorian Period. In feel, Nidhe Israel gives an impression of the lightness of the original building. Amsterdam always has had dark brown woodwork.

The common story told is that Bevis Marks was modelled after Amsterdam: I myself doubt this: the resemblance is much closer to Nidhe Israel, which was the first synagogue opened on British Territory since the expulsion- we have official survey maps dated 1641 in Barbados that have the synagogue floor plan marked. After the 1831 hurricane the synagogue was rebuilt as an exact replica of the original - only the original baroque candelabra were replaced with a more modern variation - everything else was put pack as it was before, down to the last detail. The window design on the remodelled synagogue had gothic arches - the original structure had baroque round arched windows. We know this as the first synagogue structure appears in an early survey-painting of Bridgetown.

Ties between Jewish Bridgetown - in what was Britain's very first overseas territory - and Jewish London were very close. Towards the end of the 1800's, the Bridgetown mahamad actually sat in London, as there were more members of the Kaal in London than in Barbados. Eventually Bridgetown was merged with London, the Esnoga was sold, and all the sefarim and silver etc were put in a large box and sent to England.

The resemblance to Bevis Marks is striking - this synagogue probably resembles the hollowed out house in Creechurch Lane - which by the time the congregation outgrew it, had been  remodelled, hollowed out, and included a lady's gallery. In the mid to late 1600's there were more Jews in Bridgetown than in London,  and Bridgetown had a higher reputation as a place of Jewish learning.

The Esnoga in Amsterdam is much later  - it was completed on August 2, 1675. By this time, London already would have had a 'complete' synagogue inside the house on Creechurch Lane. The Esnoga is quite different in feel to Bevis Marks - which shares more detailing in common with Bridgetown than it does with Amsterdam.