A c. 19th Century Menorah used in possession of the Panacea Society in Bedford in the 1920s. The society, a Christian Messianic cult, may well have obtained it locally.
Bedford Castle Lane, at the heart of the medieval Jewry of Bedford, between the market and the Castle and also the site of the Bedford Loan Company ran by the father of Bedford Jewish Olympian, Harold Abrahams (7-9 Castle Lane).
Remains of the former Motte of Bedford Castle, important in medieval Jewish life in Bedford and Bedford Jews helped hold the castle against the King, in the siege of 1244. All of the defenders were executed.
The 1833 frontage of Bedford Modern School, now the Harpur Centre, once the focus of a Jewish emancipation fight to reinstate Jewish children to the benefits of the Harpur Trust.
The commemorative blue plaque at the former Abrahams home in Rutland Road to Harold Abrahams, of 'Chariots of Fire' fame.
The birth-place of two Jewish Olympians, the Abrahams brothers - 30 Rutland Road. Note the recent blue plaque on the wall. (Image Google Earth).
Site of the World War II Enigma Code-Breaker's School for a crash-course in Japanese - Ardour House, 2 The Broadway. (Image Google Earth)
In the original building on this site, the Rev. Samuel Hillyard of the Bunyan Meeting was one of the local churchmen responsible for the scandelous conversion to Christianity of Nathan Joseph, the minister to the Bedford Jewish congregation in 1824. (Google Earth Image)
Morris Lissack's Home. Lissack was one of the leading Jewish figures in Bedford and fought for Jewish equality. (Image from Google Earth)
Stop watch used by Bedford Jew, Harold Abrahams (Olympic Gold Medallist, Paris, 1924) used to time the first sub-four minute mile by Roger Bannister. In the back ground is part of a photograph showing the iconic moment at the Iffley Track, Oxford.
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Photo Gallery - Bedford
The Bedford Jewry was a small but fascinating Jewry, with an active medieval Jewish community, who took part in the turbulent history of the times, including resisting the King in the siege of Bedford castle. The modern community was founded in the 18th century, and in the 19th century; the Rabbi of Bedford Synagogue caused scandal by converting to Christianity. Later, in the century, Morris Lissack, fought a successful one-man battle for Jewish education and emancipation in Bedford. At the turn of the 20th century the remarkable Abrahams family took up residence in Bedford and produced two Jewish Olympic athletes, including Harold Abrahams, who Olympic feats were celebrated in the film 'Chariots of Fire'. Read More
