When a group of Barbican residents began investigating a cemetery rumoured to lie beneath their estate, they had little idea what they would unearth
The Jewish Square Mile project was born from a startling realisation: in the core of the City of London lies one of the most significant medieval Jewish sites in and almost no one Britain-knew it was there. A vast cemetery, containing 10,000 to 13,000 people, remained unmarked beneath the Barbican estate.
Our inspiration to bring the cemetery to light came, in part, from an unexpected ally: Father Jack Noble, the remarkable rector of St Giles' Cripplegate. He urged us to look beneath the surface, literally and figuratively, and to find the truth of the medieval community, not as fragments of sorrow, but as a story of resilience, coexistence, creativity and life.
Barbican high walks © Jewish Square Mile
Archaeology carried out before the Barbican was built reportedly showed some empty grave cuts but little evidence of Jewish medieval life. However, as we pieced together charters, tax rolls and maps, the picture became clear: this community was vibrant, diverse and deeply woven into the fabric of the City. One source of information were the archa records, deeds held locally in archae (locked chests) and controlled by the Exchequer of the Jews, which enabled the monarch to monitor Jewish taxation.
Our website shows a map of the cemetery: it lies under the Thomas More Residents' Garden, which can be viewed from the high walk on Defoe House, then extends under the City of London School for Girls, finishing at the former Museum of London. We launched our project last September with an exhibition on the City's ancient Jewish community. Performances at the opening event included a cantorial piece, Shivisi, composed for the occasion.
Our mission is to mark the cemetery, honour the medieval community, and educate with honesty and pride. In doing so we hope to restore a richer awareness of our shared past.
By Howard Morris
Header photo: Ruins of the medieval St Alphage church at the Barbican © Alamy
Howard Morris is JSQ's chair of trustees. thejewishsquaremile.org
This article appears in the Winter 2026 issue of JR.