Lottery funding hopes for Jurnet's House in Norwich
Supporters of plans to transform an historic Norwich building into a national centre for the study of Jewish heritage and antisemitism are getting ready to seek lottery cash for the project.
Dan Grimmer
The city's Jewish community, the University of East Anglia and Norwich City Council want to turn the Music House, also known as Jurnet's House, in King Street, into the centre.​​​​​​​​​​​​
​
Jurnet's House in Norwich (Image: Peter Prinsley)
The building next to Wensum Lodge dates back to the 12th century and is the oldest existing place of Jewish habitation in England.
​
It was associated with a prominent member of the Jewish community in Norwich, who was known as Jurnet the Jew.
​
Those behind the project want it to be a celebration of the community's long-running contribution to the city, but also an acknowledgement of Norwich's dark history of religious persecution.
​
It was the location of medieval Europe's first recorded instance of the 'blood libel', the false accusation that Jews murdered Christians boys to use their blood in religious rituals.
​
This sprung from the death of a 12-year-old Norwich apprentice called William whose body was found in Thorpe Woods in Easter 1144.
Jurnet's Bar underneath the Music House (Image: Jamie Honeywood)
A monk called Thomas of Monmouth later claimed - with no evidence - that Jews had slaughtered the boy in a ritualistic killing.
Similar anti-Semitic myths then sprang up across the rest of the country and Europe, with Jews wrongly accused of other child murders.
​
The claims triggered widespread persecution, including in Norwich.
​
Modern versions of the blood libel still persist.
The trustees behind the plans for Jurnet's House say the Grade I-listed building is a "touchstone to the Jewish history of this country".
​
Their ambition is to get it restored and turned into a cultural centre, celebrating Jewish heritage but also helping to understand the impact antisemitism has had.
A spokeswoman for the Jurnet's House Trust said: "The 12th century house, the oldest Jewish dwelling in England, is a reminder of our deep roots here but also of how our presence has long been conditional.
​
It witnessed the origins of the blood libel and the expulsion of England's Jews in 1290.​​
A depiction of William of Norwich (Image: Wikipedia)
Now it is set to be restored and become a national centre for the study and understanding of this Jewish heritage, antisemitism, xenophobia and racism".
Norwich City Council is working with the trustees on the proposed to restore the Music House (Image: Mike Page)
A spokeswoman for Norwich City Council said: "We can confirm that we are working with the Jurnet's Trust on proposals to restore the Music House.
This partnership is still in its early stages and restoration is not yet under way, so timelines and funding avenues are still being developed.
In the meantime Norwich City Council, as freeholder, is taking action to safeguard and maintain the property."
An expression of interest is to be submitted to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and if that is successful, then further fundraising would be carried out.
The trustees said this month's attack on a synagogue in Manchester - in which two people died - demonstrated the importance of education to help end violence and prejudice.
Flowers are laid at the Heaton Park Hebrew Synagogue in Manchester after the terror attack (Image: Peter Byrne / Press Association)
On Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day, Jihad Al-Shamie launched his terror attack outside Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue.
Al-Shamie, 35, had driven his car at worshippers outside, attacked others with a knife and tried to storm the synagogue, wearing a fake suicide belt.
Al-Shamie, who was on bail for an alleged rape, was shot dead by police. He was not known to counter-terror police but did have a criminal history and police said he may have been influenced by an extreme Islamist mindset.
A spokeswoman for the Jurnet's House trustees said: "As we confront the harsh reality of the much-feared attack on British soil against Jews quietly worshipping on the holiest day of the year, it is time for this country to work harder to learn its history and put a stop to prejudice and violence.
We call on people across the UK to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community, to hold close this country's important Jewish past and present and join us in uprooting the antisemitism that continues to mar British life."