For 150 years Coventry was the cynosure of British watchmaking. From the 1850’s, as the city’s watchmaking renown became world-wide, skilled immigrant Jewish watchmakers, from Bavaria and Prussia, added to the city’s expertise and made a remarkable contribution to its Jewish community.
The book “Hidden Histories – Coventry Jewish Watchmakers” brings together the story of a profession and the development of the city’s Jewish community from the 1850’s to the 1920’s. Its author, Mark Johnson, has produced a remarkable piece of work based on meticulous research, which unearths forgotten family stories, intertwined family trees and illustrates where the families lived and worked. Exceptionally, is its discovery of the link to the Coventry Synagogue – not only were the immigrant Jewish watchmakers instrumental in the building of the synagogue in 1870 but they also provided the first five presidents of the Coventry Hebrew congregation. Their names may now be forgotten but Mark Johnson honours their enormous significance in late nineteenth century Coventry: Cohen, Fridlander, Silveston, Radges and Baum.
This fascinating book is eminently readable. It opens a window on a previously under-researched part of the city’s Jewish community and of the city’s watchmaking industry. As Peter Walters, chair of the Coventry Society, notes “Mark Johnsons forensic and beautifully illustrated study of Coventry’s Jewish watchmakers and their families is an important contribution to understanding the pre-industrial city’s most important trade. It is also a powerful testimony to the benefits of migration, which has always shaped Coventry’s story”.
Mark Johnson gave a teasing insight into his remarkable book at the Society’s Heritage Conference on 28 October. There is also an exhibition at the Herbert Gallery.
Hidden Histories -Coventry Jewish Watchmakers is available from the Herbert Gallery or Amazon for £11.99
Trevor Cornfoot – November 2023