BEVERLEY – This April marks thirty years since the Hull Hebrew Congregation opened its synagogue on Pryme Street. The building, consecrated by Chief Rabbi Dr Jonathan Sacks in 1995, was designed to bring together a declining but determined community, following decades of demographic change and the closure of earlier synagogues across the city.
The move was both practical and symbolic. By the 1990s, Hull’s Jewish population had shrunk significantly, in line with broader national trends affecting provincial Jewish communities. Yet the opening of Pryme Street did not signal the end of Jewish life in Hull. Rather, it allowed a centuries-old tradition to continue, albeit on a smaller scale.
Hull’s Jewish history stretches back to the mid-18th century, when families began settling in the city’s port, drawn by the opportunities it offered for trade and migration. By the 1820s, a formal congregation had been established, and Hull soon developed into a regional centre for Jewish life. The community grew steadily through the 19th century, bolstered by arrivals from Germany, Holland and later from Eastern Europe.
By the early 20th century, Hull supported several synagogues and a network of Jewish institutions including schools, welfare bodies and cultural clubs. Many Jewish families made their homes around Beverley Road and Spring Bank, establishing businesses in retail, textiles, jewellery and the food trade. They played an active role in civic and professional life, often integrating while maintaining their religious and cultural identity.
One of the most prominent figures was Sir Leo Schultz, a Labour councillor who served as Lord Mayor during the Second World War and remained a key force in Hull’s post-war reconstruction. His leadership during the Blitz, and his role in expanding housing and public services, earned him national recognition and underlined the depth of the community’s civic contribution.
Though most of the focus was on Hull, Jewish families were also active across the East Riding, in towns such as Beverley, Bridlington and Goole. Their presence may have been quieter, but they helped to shape the region’s economic and cultural life, particularly in trade, education and the professions.
The community’s decline after the 1950s was gradual but marked. As younger generations moved south or abroad, synagogues began to close or merge. By the time Pryme Street opened, the Jewish population had fallen into the low hundreds. The new building offered a practical base for Orthodox worship and community activity, replacing the older Robinson Row and Osborne Street synagogues which had served previous generations.
Today, the Hull Hebrew Congregation continues to hold weekly services and observe Jewish festivals. It is joined by the Reform congregation, Ne’ve Shalom, based in Willerby, which remains active in progressive worship and education. While numbers are modest, both congregations maintain contact with Jewish students at the university and welcome visiting families.
Much of the Jewish story in Hull is preserved in the archives of the Hull History Centre, which holds one of the most substantial collections of Jewish records outside London. These include synagogue minutes, burial registers, business correspondence and material relating to the Kindertransport, reflecting Hull’s role as a point of arrival for Jewish refugees in the 1930s.
Pryme Street’s anniversary offers a moment to take stock. Hull’s Jewish population is no longer what it once was, but its legacy is woven into the civic, commercial and cultural history of the region. From the arrival of early traders in the 1700s to the community leaders of the 20th century, and the handful who maintain services today, the Jewish presence in Hull and the East Riding has been defined not by ceremony, but by quiet continuity.