Garnethill Synagogue

The first Jewish community in Glasgow can be traced from . By the 1870s, the community numbered around 1,000 and looked to build a permanent synagogue for the first time in Scotland as the converted synagogue in George Street (opened 1878) was full. This decision to build the synagogue was decided by the Special General Meeting in October 1875 and the site at the corner of Garnet Street and Hill Street was decided by a majority of votes as the location for the new synagogue. It was believed that this location was popular because many of the Jewish community were moving to the west of the city, especially many of the leading figures of the community such as Benjamin and Michael Simons.…

The synagogue was designed by John McLeod of Dumbarton, in conjunction with London-based architect Nathan Solomon Joseph of the United Synagogue; and built in the period of 1879-81. McLeod designed a number of churches and public buildings in Glasgow and the west of Scotland, including the Women’s Christian Association in Bath Street, Glasgow. McLeod was the architect of the fruit warehouses of Simons, Jacob & Co, headed by Benjamin Simons and his son, Michael, both leaders in the Jewish community. The building's exterior is Romanesque Revival. The basilica-form, orientalist style interior features Byzantine Revival detail. As the main building stands between east and west, the apse in the…