the former

Pontypool Synagogue

Pontypool, Torfaen, Gwent

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congregations throughout the British Isles and Gibraltar, both past and present.

Town of Pontypool

Pontypool, a town on the edge of the South Wales coalfields, is situated on the river Afon Llwyd, approximately 15 miles inland from Newport.

Until 1974, Pontypool formed the urban district of Pontypool in the old county of Monmouthshire (which in many instances was then considered part of England and not Wales). From 1974 until 1996, it was part of the district of Torfaen in the new county of Gwent. In 1996, Gwent was abolished as an administrative county, and the district became the county borough of Torfaen - a unitary authority (within the purely ceremonial, or preserved, county of Gwent).

The Jewish Community

A small, short-lived, Jewish community existed in Pontypool in the latter part of the nineteenth century.

Congregation Data
Name:	Pontypool Synagogue
Address:	The synagogue may have been at Wigan House, Wainfelin, Pontypool. Wigan House is situated between Fowler St and Campell St.⁽ⁱⁱⁱ⁾
Formation:	The congregation was founded on or shortly before the opening of the synagogue in 1867. The synagogue was consecrated on 10 February 1867, in a ceremony officiated by Rev. Nathan Jacobs of Cardiff, assisted by Rev. Henry David Marks of Cardiff and Rev. Lewis Harfield of Newport, as well as the congregation's newly appointed Rev. David Rosenthal.^(iv)
Closure:	There are no press reports of the synagogue, nor of an organised Jewish community in Pontypool, beyond the 1860s and it is presumed that the congregation had become defunct by the 1870s.
Ritual:	Ashkenazi Orthodox
Affiliation:	The congregation was an unaffiliated provincial congregation.
Ministers:	Rev. David Rosenthal - minister appointed 1867.^(v)
Lay Officers:	Joseph Jacobs - President 1867.^(v) Mr. Follick - Treasurer 1867.^(v)
Registration District:	Torfaen, since 1 January 1993^(viii) - Link to Register Office website
Cemetery Information:	There was no Jewish cemetery in Pontypool, the closest being in Newport.

Online Articles and Other Material
relating to the Pontypool Jewish Community

on JCR-UK

Two Unknown Welsh Synagogues, and an Oxford Connection, an article by Harold Pollins. Originally published in Oxford Menorah issue no. 182, Chanukah 2006 / 5767.
Press Cuttings relating to the Opening of the Pontypool Synagogue, 1867.
References to Pontypool Families in Announcements in The Jewish Chronicle, extracted by Steven Jaffe.

on Third Party websites

Do you remember a synagogue in Pontypool?, on Reminiscences of Old Pontypool website, which repeats part of the above JCR-UK article by Harold Pollins and discusses peoples' reminiscences of the Jews of Pontypool and its synagogue.

Notable Jewish Connections with Pontypool

Leo Abse (1917-2008) Cardiff born solicitor and author, was Labour MP for Pontypool from 1958 until 1983 (when the constituency was abolished) and then for its replacement Torfaen (1983 until 1987). He was noted for his flamboyant dress on Budget Day and introduced more private members' bills than any other MP in the 20th century.

21st Century Jewish Population Data
County Borough of Torfaen (including Pontypool)
Year	Number	Source
2001	21	Census 2001 for England and Wales
2011	16	Census 2011 for England and Wales
2021	15	Census 2021 for England and Wales

Notes & Sources
(↵ returns to text above)

(i) and (ii) Reserved.
(iii) Comment dated 4 July 2025 to Do you remember a synagogue in Pontypool? on the Old Pontypool website. The Pontypool Free Press report of 16 February 1867, refers to the synagogue as being in Wainvelen, and in the article on Two Synagogues by Harold Pollins, he indicates that the synagogue could have been at Wain House. ↵
(iv) Press reports containing detailed descriptions of the synagogue's consecration service appears in the Pontypool Free Press of 16 February 1867 and The Jewish Chronicle of 1 March 1867. Rev. H.D. Marks is referred to as Rev. D. Marks in these reports. Press cuttings of both reports can be found HERE. ↵
(v) The Pontypool Free Press report of 16 February 1867 and The Jewish Chronicle report of 1 March 1867 - see press cuttings. ↵
(vi) and (vii) Reserved.
(viii) Previous Registration District: The Registration District was known as Pontypool from 1 July 1837 until 1 January 1993, when it was renamed Torfaen. All records would now be held by the current office. ↵

Jewish Congregations in the historic county of Monmouthshire

Jewish Congregations in the former administrative county of Gwent

Jewish Congregations in Wales, listed according to current unitary authorities

Jewish Communities & Congregations in Wales home page

Page created: 4 December 2006
Data significantly expanded and notes added: 5 March 2025
Page most recently amended: 6 March 2025

Research by David Shulman and Steven Jaffe
Formatting by David Shulman

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