Author Description

The Archaeology of Anglo-Jewry in England and Wales 1656-c.1880 is a comprehensive study of the urban topography of Anglo-Jewry in the period before the mass immigration of 1881. The book brings together the evidence for the physical presence of at least 80% of the Jewish community. London and thirty-five provincial cities and towns are discussed. The year 1656 marks the date of re-admission to the country by Cromwell. His purpose was to re-establish London as a major trading centre and the Jews were a key to this. The book traces the development of the community from a handful of families in 1656 to c.60,000 persons in 1880, mostly living in London. The immigrants who came to England and Wales in the early 18th century were in the main fleeing from poverty and persecution in Eastern Europe, and hoping to find a better life. The book discusses the evidence for the demographic shift out of the slum areas in the major cities, such as Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham, to the suburbs and the decline of the early port communities from 1815.