Inventory Site Record

The Western Synagogue was established in 1761 and the Cemetery in Montagu Road opened in 1884 as its second cemetery. The land was initially owned by the Federation of Synagogues whose adjacent Edmonton Federation Cemetery opened in 1889. A portion of the land was sold to the Western Synagogue for its own, smaller cemetery. There are neat ranks of headstones, and a main path leads through the graves, but there are no buildings.

Site location:

Montagu Road, Edmonton

Postcode:

N18 2NF

What 3 Words:

flops.post.cones

Type of site:

Cemetery

Borough:

Enfield

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

no information (open when visited)

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Edmonton Green. Bus: 192, 363

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Research updated:

01/04/2000

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news.

The area was once known as Marsh Side due to its location by Edmonton marshes on the banks of the Lea, and later became known as Jeremy's Green Lane before being renamed Montagu Road after Samuel Montagu who owned the land. A wealthy banker, philanthropist and MP, Montagu was a key instigator in establishing the Federation of Synagogues in 1887. The site of the three cemeteries was probably within the farmland of Polehouse Farm in the Manor of Polehouse, which was owned by the Chapter of St Paul's in 1412. In 1872 ownership passed to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The Western Synagogue was established in 1761 and opened its cemetery in Montagu Road in the late C19th. The opening date is unclear; although some sources give this as 1884, the International Jewish Cemetery Project dates this cemetery later than the adjoining Edmonton Federation Cemetery, which was opened in 1889 by the Federation of Synagogues, who initially owned the land used for the Western Synagogue Cemetery site. However, other sources give the date of the latter as the later to open, the land donated by the banker Samuel Montagu. The main Western Cemetery is now in Cheshunt. In 1991 the Western Marble Arch Synagogue was set up as successor to the Western Synagogue and Marble Arch Synagogues, and now holds this cemetery's records at the synagogue at 32 Great Cumberland Place (q.v.).

The cemetery is entered through 2 sets of quite ornamental iron gates in a brick wall leading into a gravelled driveway with some well-kept shrub planting/oblong formal bed in front of a square brick building that bears the only indication of the name of the cemetery on a plaque inscribed: Cemetery of the Western Synagogue. Behind this building is a concrete path leads through the graves, flanked by a series of neatly pruned laurel bushes, then small conifers; turning left it becomes a neat gravelled path, with a small area of seating some way along this. There are no buildings, and few other paths between the graves. The cemetery is divided from the Edmonton Federation Cemetery (q.v.), which it abuts on two sides, by chainlink fencing with a small amount of shrubbery/small trees for a short way; a single tree marks one corner. A high wall divides the cemetery from the public path that runs beyond the southern boundary between Montagu Road and Plevna Road.

Sources consulted:

Webb C, revised ed. of Wolfston, P, Greater London Cemeteries and Crematoria, Society of Genealogists, 3rd ed. 1994; The Paul Drury Partnership for LB Enfield, 'Montagu Road Cemeteries Conservation Area Character Appraisal', 2006

Grid ref:

TQ350930 (534950,193000)

Size in hectares:

8.81 (inc. w Edmonton Fed Cem)

Site ownership:

Western Marble Arch Synagogue Burial Society

Site management:

Western Marble Arch Synagogue Burial Society

Date(s):

1884

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

None

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Montagu Road Cemeteries

Tree Preservation Order:

Not known

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

Included in Local Register of Historic Parks and Gardens