Beth HaMedrash or Synagogue, Villiers Street South

This was a large purpose-built Beth Hamedrash (religious study hall often attached to a synagogue) or Synagogue. It is shown labelled 'Synagogue' on the Ordnance Survey 25 inch map of 1919 on the west side of Villiers Street South towards the southern end, but not on earlier or later maps. There is a photo of it on the JCR-UK website showing a two storey 4 bay brick building.
Sunderland's east end was in the late 19th century home to 1,000 Jewish immigrants, many from Krottingen in Lithuania. The first Beth Hamedrash (1891) was in Zion Street. In 1895 the congregation (Chevra Torah from 1891 to 1899) moved to Villiers Street North. In 1899 a new premises was built at Villiers Street South. In 1903 a new synagogue opened in Meaburn Street. In 1938 a new Beth Hamedrash was built on the corner of Mowbray Road and The Oaks (now demolished). The Ashkenazi Orthodox congregation was incorporated into the Sunderland Hebrew Congregation in 1984.