Report - Greenbank Synagogue, Liverpool - March 2014

[ZerO81]

Greenbank Synagogue, Liverpool
(Zer081 once again doing what he does best...hopping on the tourist bus!)

History

Built in 1937 The art-deco building is the work of the notable Liverpool architect Sir Ernest Alfred Shennan. Most of his other work is also in Merseyside and comprises a diversity of building types. His inter-war designs included Westminster Banks; five cinemas including the listed Forum Cinema on Lime Street, Liverpool; restaurant interiors (The French Café and Arabic Café, both 1933, Liverpool); dance halls (The Grafton Rooms, Liverpool, 1934); hotels and office blocks. Greenbank Drive is Shennan’s only synagogue and is very different to the rest of his oeuvre up to that time which, apart from the banks, was distinctive art deco.

The Synagogue was listed in 1983, but that listing was upgraded to a Grade II* after closure in 2008 thanks to pressure by the Twentieth Century Society. It was once the largest expanse of roof unsupported by pillars anywhere in the country. The synagogue has received a substantial redevelopment grant and is on all those Heritage At Risk lists.

According to the C20 Society, The Synagogue is architecturally by far the most important and innovatory 20th century synagogue in England and is the finest surviving synagogue in Europe dating from the inter-war period. It also has important socio-historic significance as representing a last late optimistic cultural expression of European Jewry before the holocaust.

The Visit

Well, this place was certainly popular a few months ago and as standard, I took the opportunity to jump aboard the tourist bus, pay the entrance fee and purchase my souvenir t-shirt to remember my visit. The thing that stands out about this place, along side it being relatively untouched by chav-hands was that it as massive inside, everywhere you went there seemed to be another set of stairs leading to some other part of the building. There were quite a few nice features around the place, including the tora scrolls which were still there on our visit. Surprisingly enough, on our chosen day, there was only one other person in there - ACID-REFLUX, very nice to meet you mate .

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Visited with Explorer62 and FraggleHunter

Full gallery HERE
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[georgie]

Re: Greenbank Synagogue, Liverpool, March 2014

Spot on dude lovely pics

 

[Yorrick]

Re: Greenbank Synagogue, Liverpool, March 2014

As always mate a lot of different and cracking shots

 

[The Kwan]

Re: Greenbank Synagogue, Liverpool, March 2014

Nice photos man, me and Telf bombed out here and ended up in the greasy spoon down the road, still a win

 

[Will Knot]

Re: Greenbank Synagogue, Liverpool, March 2014

Was it that long ago.......nice report and process on pics there mate

 

[Boomstick84]

Re: Greenbank Synagogue, Liverpool, March 2014

Beautiful shots, really like these.

Thanks for sharing

 

[scotty markfour]

some really nice images there , well done !

 

[Ferox]

Spot on mate, great pics