West Ham Jewish Cemetery facts for kids
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1856 |
| Location |
Buckingham Road, West Ham (London Borough of Newham), London E15 1SP
|
| Country | England, United Kingdom |
| Type | Closed (since 2002) |
| Owned by | United Synagogue Burial Society |
The West Ham Jewish Cemetery is a special burial ground for Jewish people. It is located in West Ham, a part of London, England. This cemetery was started in 1856 by two important Jewish communities in London: the New Synagogue and the Great Synagogue. It was used for burials until 2002, when it closed to new graves.
Many interesting people are buried here. The cemetery also has a very old section. This part holds graves that were moved from another burial ground in Hoxton. The oldest readable gravestone in this section is from 1794.
The Rothschild Mausoleum
The Rothschild Mausoleum is a large, round building with a dome. It was built in 1866 by a man named Ferdinand James von Rothschild. He built it to honor his wife, Evelina de Rothschild, who sadly passed away at age 27.
The architect who designed it was Matthew Digby Wyatt. The mausoleum is made of marble and looks like buildings from the Renaissance revival period. It has beautiful details, including columns and impressive ironwork.
A Sad Incident
In 2005, some parts of the cemetery were damaged. Vandals attacked the mausoleum, breaking its doors with heavy metal bars. They also damaged other monuments and graves. Police described this as a hateful act targeting the cemetery.
Famous People Buried Here
Many notable people are buried at West Ham Jewish Cemetery. Here are a few:
- Evelina de Rothschild (1839–1866): A well-known socialite.
- Ferdinand James von Rothschild (1839–1898): The man who built the mausoleum for his wife.
- Sir David Salomons, 1st Baronet (1797–1873): He was a very important person who worked to gain equal rights for Jewish people in the United Kingdom. He was the first Jewish Sheriff and later the first Jewish Lord Mayor of London.
- Philip Salomons (1796–1867): A financier and a High Sheriff of Sussex.
War Graves
The cemetery also contains graves for soldiers from different wars. There are five graves for Commonwealth service members. Four of these are from World War I, and one is from World War II. Also buried here are a German soldier who was a prisoner of war and two German civilians from World War I.
See Also
- Jewish cemeteries in the London area
- United Synagogue
