services began to be held in Chorlton on Medlock Town Hall, All Saints. This area was then developing as a fashionable residential district and a number of Jewish businessmen had moved south from Cheetham Hill. Less than 12 months later, a permanent synagogue was established nearby in a converted former orphan's home in Sidney Street. It was furnished with seating for 100 men with a ladies gallery for 60.
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| South Manchester Synagogue. A sketch by Paul Gent |
Membership flourished, peaking at over 800 in the 1970's and was innovative in the form of worship. The community included numerous prominent citizens including magistrates, judges, mayors, MPs and a High Sheriff. Demographic change however saw the congregation decline as families moved to other districts and in 2002 a new synagogue opened in Bowden. The Grade II listed building in Fallowfield was sold and is being converted into a Jewish student centre.
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My model, at 1:200 scale shows the proposed addition of an accommodation block at the rear of the Synagogue joined by a single storey link.
Because of the proximity of housing to the rear,this was a sensitive project. The model was needed to demonstrate to planners and residents that there would be minimum impact due to the design and existing tree screening.
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Joseph Sunlight was born in 1889 in Russia to the Schimschlavitch family. They settled in Manchester in 1890 adopting the name Sunlight. Joseph, apprenticed to an architect for just three years had his own practice in St Ann's Square by 1907. His output was prolific and included hundreds
of houses in Prestwich. His first major commission, at the age of 23 was The South Manchester Synagogue in Fallowfield a design that employed innovative methods of supporting the dome and gallery.
The architect is best known for Sunlight House on Quay Street. Built in 1932 of Portland stone, this art deco building of 14 storeys housed Sunlight's property business. Not content with his creation, he proposed in 1948, an extention of 40 storeys surmounted by a clock tower. Sadly it was refused by the city's planners who lost the opportunity for a notable landmark.
Sunlight was a Liberal member of Parliament and although never realised, he introduced in 1923 a bill for the standardisation of bricks. Joseph Sunlight died in 1978, Manchester's wealthiest resident.
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The sketches completed in 2012 and 2013 are by Paul Gent, a prolific artist who works in my neighbouring town. His Facebook albums feature numerous examples of his work, his subjects being from many parts of the world. https://www.facebook.com/paul.gent.5648/photos_albums
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| Sunlight House |
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