Forgotten dreams slumber here. We are standing before Bancroft Road Cemetery. This cemetery lacks any exterior sign. Tall iron railings guard its secrets. Passersby might not even notice its presence.
Bancroft Road Cemetery is a peaceful green patch in the East End. It has been neglected for over a century. This cemetery served the congregation of Maiden Lane Synagogue. The synagogue was located in Covent Garden. Bancroft Road Cemetery opened in 1811. Over 500 graves reside within.
The Maiden Lane Synagogue faced decline in the early 1900s. Bomb damage in 1944 further devastated the cemetery. Stones scattered in disarray. The Board of Deputies of British Jews refused redevelopment requests.
The Maiden Lane Synagogue was a dissident offspring. It broke away from the Western Synagogue in the early 19th century. The synagogue closed in 1907. Most cemetery records vanished during the 1941 London air raids. Nazi Germany caused this destruction. A past inspection revealed only fragments of headstones.
Bancroft Road Cemetery has fallen into disrepair. Only a handful of tombstones remain. Small plaques mark the areas. However, London Metropolitan Archives holds some papers. These papers relate to this cemetery. They reveal the burial of Hart family members.
The United Synagogue website offers a “Find a Grave” search. This helps locate graves. It is listed as one of the cemeteries for which the search facility is available.
Explorers of the Jewish East End may have come across this desolate site. It is located at the side of Mile End Hospital. The land is fenced with ragged black railings.
In the early 1800s, a dispute arose within the Westminster Synagogue. This led to the founding of a break-away congregation in 1810. By 1819, they moved to Queen Street. Attempts at reconciliation failed. By 1826, Queen Street’s insolvency forced closure.
Three years later, the break-away congregation reappeared. It was known as Maiden Lane Synagogue. It was located at 21 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden. The synagogue was consecrated in April 1829. Maiden Lane was a small place. It seated no more than 150 men. A ladies’ gallery accommodated 100 women.
The congregation purchased its own cemetery. It was located at Globe Fields, Bancroft Road. The cemetery was just 1600 sq yards. The first burial took place in 1811. By 1884, it had fallen into disrepair. By 1895, it was practically filled.
Henry Harris purchased land for a new cemetery. This was in Edmonton. He donated it to the community. Bancroft Road closed except for reserved burials. Maiden Lane’s membership declined. They faced a financial crisis. By 1907, they were bankrupt.
Terms were agreed with the Western Synagogue. This led to a take over. 100 years of separation ended. The synagogue closed forever. The Western Synagogue would not be responsible for Bancroft Road Cemetery. Responsibility transferred to the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
Bancroft Road Cemetery was bombed during World War Two. Little remains today. There are two or three intact headstones. Broken masonry litters the ground. Ernest M Lazerick died in 1890 at age 27.
In 1842, the Maiden Lane Synagogue helped the Reform Synagogue. The Reform Synagogue had no burial ground. Mrs Horatio Montefiore was buried here. She was the only one. In 1843, the West London Synagogue acquired its own burial ground.
Bancroft Road Cemetery, a place of rest. A place of Jewish history. Though neglected, it holds stories. Stories of those long gone. Let us remember them.