The Medieval Mikveh

Excavated in Milk Street, City of London.

To be installed in the Jewish Museum. Camden.

The Jewish Museum is currently undertaking £.4.2 million HLF backed- redevelopment project, which will triple its space at its Camden Town site and bring together all its collections and activities, previously divided between sites in Camden Town and Finchley. A major feature in the new museum will be a medieval mikveh (Jewish ritual bath), excavated by the Museum of London in 2001 in Milk Street in the City. Dating from the mid-13th century, it is a very rare physical trace of London's medieval Jewish population, providing evidence of the religious and cultural life led by the community prior to their expulsion from England in 1290. The mikveh is currently held in storage. It will be reassembled and installed in the enlarged Museum on the ground floor, giving all an opportunity to see this rare and important object. The mikveh project does not come under the HLF grant. It is expected to cost £138,000 to complete its installation. The Museum has received a £100,000 grant from the Edmond J. Safra Foundation. An additional £38,000 is still required to meet the installation and display costs. The Trust has offered a grant of £4,000 towards this.

The Jewish Museum, with the new Mikveh display, was re-opened in spring 2010.

photo: courtesy of Andy Chopping/Museum of London Arcaheology