The opening of a new visitor and education centre at Britain’s oldest synagogue, Bevis Marks in the City of London, which was due to take place this year, has been delayed until next year because of building complications.
Howard Martin, chair of the Bevis Marks Synagogue Heritage Foundation, told supporters that work at the 320-year old site had proved to be “challenging”.
Party wall works which the contractor had thought would be straightforward had “turned out to be quite complex,” he explained.
“Unexpected columns were found to be corroded as more opening took place and beams were discovered that were not supposed to be there,” he said.
The issue not only meant “several redesigns but as it prevents quite a lot of other work on site from taking place, it has caused us programme delays. All this means that we are having to change our planned opening date to spring 2023.”
More than £7 million has been raised for the project, which has included conservation work at the synagogue. The new facilities will enable it to showcase more of its historic artefacts and also tell the story of the early years of the restored Jewish community in England.
The undercroft was almost ready for the exhibition fit out, Mr Martin said.
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