Velho Cemetery Of The Spanish And Portuguese Jewish Congregation Of London

The Velho Cemetery of the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish Congregation of London, opened in 1657, is the oldest Jewish burial ground in England, established shortly after the Anglo-Jewish resettlement under Oliver Cromwell. It contains burials from 1657 to 1758, featuring a few table tombs, including a group of six in the southwest corner, while most tombstones are laid flat. The earlier inscriptions are in Portuguese, with later ones in Hebrew and English. The stones are primarily limestone, with a few made of marble, arranged to form a paved area with very narrow grass margins between them and a central path. Notable burials include Abraham Fernandes Carvajal, the founder of the Anglo-Jewish community, and two Chief Rabbis, Nieto and Meldola. The cemetery was reopened in 1828 for the burial of Rabbi Meldola, allowing him to be interred at the feet of Rabbi Nieto. The north wall features old brickwork, and there is a tablet in the wall that is listed separately. The Jewish cemeteries form a group situated between Mile End Road and Alderney Road.