Plymouth Archives at The Box

The Plymouth Archives at The Box hold the records of the Jewish community of Plymouth as part of the Local Government archives. It holds communal and religious records covering over two hundred years of history, from 1740’s until the beginning of the 21st century.

Archive Description

The archive holds a large number of collections relating to the Jewish community of Plymouth. Early records cover the beginnings of an organised Jewish community in the city, such as the Plymouth Borough almshouse accounts which includes the rental payments for the Plymouth synagogue which dates to 1804-1806. It also holds the extensive records of the Plymouth Hebrew Congregation between 1795-2005, although this collection his mainly uncatalogued.

Index cards and related documents within the Quakers’, Society of Friends Refugee Committee collection record the experiences of Jewish refugees who sought safety during the Second World War. These records offer a glimpse into the lives of those who arrived in Plymouth. The collection also features correspondence and printed material. Further information can be found on the catalogue by searching for 4655 (https://web.plymouth.gov.uk/archivescatalogue/). Some items are restricted due to the sensitive information they contain, and access can be determined on request.

Other records include school minute books from the Jacob Nathan Congregational School, accounts of the Hebrew Board of Guardians, and the register of marriages from Plymouth Hebrew Congregation.

Access Information

Access to the archives requires advance booking, which can be made from The Box website. These bookings should be made ideally with one week’s notice in advance. Opening hours are available on the website.

Online Accessibility

The archive catalogue can be found on the Plymouth City Council website. Any digital images attached to the catalogue are available for free at low resolution – higher resolution images are available for a fee. Enquiries can be sent to imageandfilm@plymouth.gov.uk.

Street Address

The Box
Tavistock Place
Plymouth
PL4 8AX

https://www.theboxplymouth.com/collections/archives-and-local-studies

1762 Plymouth Pinkus

Community Record Book • Plymouth Archive, The Box