New London Synagogue

The New London Synagogue, built in 1882, was designed by H H Collins. It is a red brick building with channelled rustication to the lower stage, and slate roofs. The design is in a North Italian Romanesque style, particularly to the three-storey front. The outer bays have round-arched two-light windows above paired blind windows with railhead decoration within round-arched architraves, flanked by pilasters. Projecting bays feature similar one-light windows. A central, pedimented bay contains a large round-arched architrave framing a three-light window with a balcony above, and a projecting portico with an arcade of three semi-circular arches supported on coupled columns with foliate capitals, topped by a central bracketed pediment; three half-glazed double doors are set within semi-circular arches. The side elevations feature five bays, each with three round-arched windows above shouldered windows. A rear porch has a semi-circular arched door.

The interior entrance hall has moulded cornices to a coffered ceiling. Three semi-circular arcaded bays, set on fluted columns with foliate capitals, lead to the outer bays, each of which has a decorative wrought-iron balustrade to a staircase. The synagogue interior itself has five bays, with a gallery on three sides. The interior features cast-iron columns with fluted, coupled shafts and stylised Composite capitals, along with decorative spandrels to the beams of the coffered ceiling, foliate coved cornices, and original sun burners. A triple arcade extends to the west end. The ark is Italianate style, made of wood, and features Ionic columns and an entablature supported on four semi-circular arches with pilasters to the central pediment. The bimah is similarly styled. Stained-glass windows are present throughout. The interior demonstrates a notable and effective use of structural cast iron.