Richmond & South West London
© Marcus Roberts

Key Dates

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1696
Richmond Wells, a spa, opens on Richmond Hill and becomes a centre of high society.
1697
Solomon Medina, a merchant, banker and army contractor, is the first known Jewish resident in Richmond.
1699
On the 18th of November King William breaks his journey to Hampton Court to dine with Solomon de Medina - probably at Heron Court.
1700
The King gives Sir Solomon de Medina his knighthood.
1702
Medina returns to Holland.
1716
Moses Hart has lived in Richmond for some years before this time.
1718 circa
Moses Hart, founder of the Great Synagogue (1722), buys a property - "a noble seat" (latterly the site of Gordon House) across, the river at nearby Isleworth.
1720-1734 circa
Moses de Medina live on Ferry Hill, later Bridge House. Moses is a leading Sephardi, having been three times warden of Bevis Marks synagogue.
1720s
Isaac Fernandez Nunez, treasurer and warden of Bevis Marks synagogue lives at Hotham House in Heron Court. Many rich Jews start to live in Richmond. Their houses are country and weekend retreats. Richmond attracts high society around its own spa and the Jews find ready social acceptance.
1748
Aaron Franks a very rich diamond merchant, buys Isleworth House, next to the Hart's mansion, it becomes the family seat for over a hundred years and they entertain high society. Branches of the family later live in Teddington and Mortlake. The family are familiar with Horace Walpole.
1750s
Richmond Wells reach the height of their celebrity.
1750s
Henry Isaac, the proprietor of the Hambro synagogue (the second Ashkenazi synagogue in England), lives in Hotham House.
1754
Isabella Levy, daughter of Judith Levy, dies 11 months after marrying the Hon. Lockhart Gordon.
1754-1803
Judith Hart, the daughter of Moses Hart the founder of the Great Synagogue, lives at Maids of Honour Row. She is immensely rich and charismatic and becomes the center of Richmond High Society, hence the nick-name the "Queen of Richmond Green"
1756
Moses Hart, moves from Isleworth and buys a house on the site of Asgill House
1780
Richmond Wells are closed, by local residents, having fallen into disrepute.
1787
Judith Levy pays most of the cost of rebuilding her father's Great Synagogue.
1787
Isabella Franks (a minor) marries a Christian, William Henry Cooper, a son of a Baronet and knight and later to be Chaplain-in-ordinary to George III.
1803
Judith Levy dies isolated and intestate in London, leaving £125,000.
1832
Isleworth House is inherited by Priscilla, now Lady Cooper, the Coopers hold it until 1862.
1838
Benjamin Cohen, buys the lease of Asgill House. He becomes a J.P. and Deputy-Lieutenant for Surrey. Arthur Cohen K.C., his son also lives at Asgill House and is gazetted Privy Councillor - he is judge of the Cinque Ports.
1840
Mr. Leopold Neumegen establishes his school for Jews, at Gloucester House, Kew - it is an upper-class establishment. Sir George Jessel is one of his pupils. It survives until this century.
1850s
Some Jewish shopkeepers are established in Richmond.
1914 circa
Mr. Neumegen's School, now run by his daughter, Ada, is closed.
1916
Arthur Howitt, a leading local Jew and proprietor of the Castle Hotel, founds the first synagogue in Richmond, situated in the Central Hall, Parkshot. The United Synagogue are very reluctant to support a new synagogue outside of London.
1924
Hyman Appleby Leon, sees Richmond from the top of a bus and decides to move to Richmond. He starts a ladies fashion shop at 7 Hill Street.
1924
Councillor Arthur Howitt (elected 1922) becomes first Jewish mayor of Richmond. He is well known for his charitable and philanthropic work as well as sporting interests. He is a widower and uniquely appoints his 11 years old daughter, Bettie, as honourary mayoress!
1938
A new building, an old chapel in Sheen Road, is acquired for a synagogue by Hyman Appleby Leon (by now a Councillor) as the original is too small. Councillor Leon will later become Mayor three times.
1981
The Sheen Road synagogue is decrepit and the Council wants to redevelop the land.
1986
A settlement of £426,000 is reached with the Council and the old synagogue vacated. The Council plan to build a Waitrose supermarket and a multi-storey car park.
1987
A new purpose built synagogue is opened in Lichfield Gardens.
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