Jewish Square Mile gets a boost from City of London community fund
Interfaith project celebrating Jews who lived in medieval London is one of 20 grassroots initiatives across the Barbican being supported by £9 million of investment
The Jewish Square Mile Foundation plans to launch an immersive soundscape bringing medieval Jewish London to life, after being selected as one of Culture Mile BID’s funded projects for 2026–27.
Launched in April 2023, the BID initiative is a business-led partnership providing £9 million of investment to support 20 grassroots initiatives within the Barbican and London Museum area, with a remit to bring people together, improve wellbeing, increase access to culture and create positive change.
Officially launched in September 2025, The Jewish Square Mile Project is the brainchild of an interfaith group launched companionably over afternoon of tea and biscuits at St Giles’ Rectory to shed light on the 1,000-year-old Jewish cemetery buried beneath the City of London’s Barbican complex.
The planned soundscape will accompany the project’s digital map, allowing visitors to experience the voices, stories, music and atmosphere of the medieval Jewish community as they explore the City.
Gaby Morris, co-chair of the Jewish Square Mile Foundation, told Jewish News: “This exciting new layer of interpretation will make one of London’s most significant yet least-known histories even more accessible, whether people are visiting in person or exploring remotely.”
She added: “We are incredibly grateful to Culture Mile BID for recognising the value of this project and for helping us bring this hidden chapter of London’s history to new audiences. It opens up another dimension to accessing history and moves away from the traditional ways of accessing history to give something sensory using music, sound and voice.”
There are more than 300 BIDs across the UK, more than 70 in London, and currently five in the City of London.
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