Historic Synagogue Puts Faith in Welsh Roofing Slates for Sympathetic Roof Refurb

Welsh//Slate has provided the traditional roofing materials that will take the roof of the UK Jewish Community’s oldest landmark into the 22^nd century.

The Bevis Marks Synagogue in the City of London, is the oldest site of Jewish worship in the UK and has counted several notable historical figures amongst its congregation, including Disraeli. A building of architectural importance as well as a continuing site of religious worship, Bevis Marks has had an eventful history since it was first completed in 1701 and the recent refurbishment is the latest chapter in a chequered past for the synagogue’s roof, which was destroyed by fire in 1738 and damaged by terrorist bombs in 1992/3.

Following the bomb damage in the early nineties, three slopes of the roof were re-constructed using the original Welsh slate tiles. Fifteen years on, the whole roof has now been completely refurbished by contractor, Anderson Roofing Services Ltd, using 6,000 Capital Grade, Heather Blue Welsh//Slate tiles from the company’s Penrhyn quarry. The hand split, 600 x 350mm roofing slates have provided a like-for-like replacement for the existing roof to preserve the character and integrity of this historic building.

“This project was on a tight schedule,” comments Peter Anderson, managing director of Anderson Roofing Services, “as handover had to be completed in time for the Jewish holiday of Yom Yippur. We were able to provide an exact match for the renewed roof elevation so that future generations will be able to enjoy the synagogue’s striking design.”