Morris Wartski opened his original shop in Bangor in 1895. This was the beginning of what would turn out to be an international business empire.
Bangor High Street, site of several successful Jewish businesses, including Shafran's Deli, Joseph Owen's Kosher Meats and John Aronson's Fine Jewellery Shop.
Burnett Bolloten was the son of Joseph Bolloten. He never got on with his father, and when in 1928 he was sent abroad to buy diamonds, Burnett never returned. Whilst in Spain, Burnett developed an interest in European politics and began writing upon it. This was the beginning of a glittering career that made him one of the most renowned political commentators of his generation.
During the Second World War, Isidore Wartski prepared 'kosher' meals for up to 60 Jewish refugee children in the hall of St. James's Church, Glanrafon Hill.
The scene of a serious anti-Semitic attack, 1896, near St James's Church, Holyhead Road.
Isidore Wartski had always aspired to building his 'dream house - a modern castle by the sea'. By the 1930s, he achieved his dream, opposite Bangor Tennis Club, Hwafa Road.
To this day, local people who remember Pollecoff's Household and General Drapery store, fondly recall its elegance, style and quality, 'at reasonable prices', located at 290 High Street.
Foundation Stone of Burton's, High Street. Burton set up his clothes shop at 233 High Street, in 1933 and then established a factory at 43 High Street.
The Synagogue. In the 1880s the community opened a two-roomed Synagogue in 'Arvonia House', which preceded the present building,'Y Gorlan', opposite 'The Harp'.
After Isidore Wartski opened his fine drapery at 196-200 High Street, by 1918, he soon he bought 'The Castle Hotel' opposite, transforming it into one of the most sumptuous in the whole of North Wales.
Isadore Wartski's shop, the Drapery, 204 High Street (now Corbett Bookies Heddiw)
Morris Wartski opened his original shop 21 High Street, in Bangor, in 1895.
A Reconstruction of the Dominican Priory, Bangor. The Dominicans were not sympathetic to any local Jews.
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Photo Gallery - Bangor
JTrails is delighted to have been invited to host this important trail which introduces an important historic community in North Wales and offers special thanks to Dr Nathan Abrams and his project team of Bangor University, who originated, authored and supported this trail and whose introduction to the trail follows.
'Welcome to this Trail of Jewish Bangor. Here, you will learn about the history of Jews in this city from medieval times to the present day.
The first evidence of Jewish presence in the region dates back to medieval times, although we are not sure that any Jews came to Bangor.
Jews were expelled from this country in 1290 and were not readmitted until 1665. However, we do not see any Jews in Bangor until the early nineteenth century. Their numbers were expanded by the mass immigrations of the last quarter of the nineteenth century but the figures of those who came to Bangor were never large.
The community declined around the 1970s but there are still individuals and families located in Bangor and scattered around in the towns and villages of Gwynedd. I am one of them.
Although very little extant traces of their presence survive, Jewish immigrants to Bangor had a significant impact on the civic, cultural, political and economic life of the city and it is this hidden history we aim to uncover in this map. We hope you enjoy it.
As project leader, I would like to thank Gareth Roberts of Menter Fachwen for his invaluable assistance on this project, Andy Goodman, Hazel Robbins and Soo Vinnicombe at Bangor University, and Rhys Jones of Locly for transforming our map into this app. This work is supported by the Bangor University ESRC Impact Acceleration Account.'
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