Cornwall’s Jewish community celebrate funding for cemetery preservation
Cornwall’s Jews are celebrating after being awarded £13,000 in lottery funding for preservation work at a Jewish cemetery in Penzance dating back to the 1740s.
Work will begin at the Grade II listed site, which is the most westerly and southerly British Jewish cemetery, after a £13,100 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
It matched contributions made by visitors to the cemetery and donations from descendants, as well as from Jewish grant-making organisations and local traders.
HLF South-West head Nerys Watts said the work would be “a vital restoration of a final resting place for many who made a major impact on Cornwall’s commercial, religious and economic life for more than two centuries”.
With its high granite stone walls and mostly well-preserved headstones, English Heritage has recognised the site as “the finest walled Georgian Jewish cemetery outside London”.
Leslie Lipert of Kehillat Kernow, the Jewish Community of Cornwall, said: “Interest has grown in preserving what remains from our forebears, and the cemetery is one of the best remaining monuments. Its restoration is a precious part of Jewish and Cornish heritage and will honour the dead.”
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
