Jacob's Well, Bristol, Medieval mikveh in Cliftonwood, Bristol, England
Jacob's Well is a medieval ritual bath built of stone that encloses a natural spring and sits at the Constitution Hill junction in the city. The structure features Hebrew inscriptions and continued supplying water well into the 19th century.
This structure was built in the 12th century and served Bristol's Jewish community until their expulsion in 1290 under King Edward I's orders. That expulsion marked the end of a significant Jewish presence in the city for centuries to come.
This well held spiritual importance for Bristol's Jewish community as a place of ritual purification before ceremonies. The Hebrew inscriptions carved into the stone reveal how deeply connected this site was to the religious practices of those who gathered here.
The site lies roughly one mile from Bristol's former Jewish quarter and is walkable from the city center. The structure sits at an intersection that is easy to find, and visitors can view the monument from the street level.
The stone contains one of the oldest Hebrew inscriptions discovered in Bristol, dating to around 1100. This ancient writing is a rare testament to medieval Jewish presence in England and remains carefully preserved today.
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