Garnet Hill Synagogue,
Hill Street,
1878-1879,
Joseph Mcleod and Nathan Joseph

This synagogue, the first to be purpose built in Scotland, was designed by Glasgow architect Joseph Mcleod who in turn consulted with a London based architect, Nathan Joseph.

The style of the building is Romanesque with some Byzantine features.

Advantage was taken of the sloping site to provide basement accomodation which includes classrooms, a small hall and a mikva.

The building is set back from the street with an entrance through a gabled facade. The body of the church runs at right angles to the entrance lobby.

The square door of the entrance is set inside a series of arches above which is contained a round window with star tracery.

The interior has survived for over a hundred years without major alterations. Columns support the gallery before continuing to an arcaded tier beneath the barrel vaulted ceiling.

The stained glass found in the dome shown here, and in some of the other windows, was designed by J.B.Bennett and Sons.

This is a view from the Ladies gallery, to the right is the choir box, to the front a view through the arcaded columns towards the altar."