A silver gilt and enamel Ceremonial presentation key, presented to Lionel de Rothschild (1882-1942) on the occasion of his opening of the new Brondesbury Synagogue, London on 9 April 1905.
Members of the Rothschild family supported synagogues across London, offering both financial and practical assistance. Active in Anglo-Jewry, Lionel de Rothschild became a Partner at New Court in 1915, becoming Senior Partner in 1923. In 1905 Lionel performed the official opening of the new Brondesbury Synagogue and was gifted this decorative enamelled presentation key as part of the ceremony. The key has an elaborately decorated enamelled handle with the cipher 'L de R.'
The Brondesbury Synagogue
In the mid-19th century the Jewish population in north-west London was increasing. In 1900 the first meetings of Brondesbury Synagogue were held, and in 1905 a new synagogue was constructed in Chevening Road. In 1923 a new synagogue, the Willesden Green and Cricklewood Synagogue, was opened to ease overcrowding in the Brondesbury Synagogue. It became a constituent synagogue of the United Synagogue in 1931 and changed its name to Cricklewood Synagogue. The original 1905 building was destroyed by fire in 1965; the site is now occupied by a Shia mosque.
