The earliest Ashkenazi synagogue constructed in London, after the return of Jews to England in the 17th century, was built about 1690 at Duke's Place, north of Aldgate, in the City of London. In 1696–7, the synagogue also acquired a burial ground, at
Alderney Road. The congregation grew, and in 1722 a new building was erected with the cost of £2,000 () being borne by businessman and philanthropist
Moses Hart. The building was consecrated on
Rosh Hashana (18 September 1722). An enlarged building, designed by
George Dance the Elder, was consecrated on 29 August 1766. The order of prayers for the inauguration was the first printed publication of the synagogue, and also the first publication to name it explicitly as 'The Great Synagogue'. Between 1788 and 1790, the third synagogue was built on the site. Unusually for the time, the principal donor was a woman,
Judith Levy, a daughter of Moses Hart, who subscribed £4,000 (). The architect was
James Spiller. The building was in the classical style identified with
John Adam. It was redecorated and repaired in 1832 and 1852 by John Walen, and restored again with small renovations in 1899 and 1930. The Royal Dukes of Cambridge, Cumberland, and Sussex, sons of
George III, visited the Great Synagogue of London in 1809. There they were seated on elegant
Egyptian revival chairs as they watched the religious service. The synagogue was also visited around this period, during his schooldays, by the writer
Leigh Hunt, who wrote 'I took pleasure in witnessing the semi-Catholic pomp of their service and in hearing their fine singing, not without something of a constant astonishment at their wearing their hats'. The synagogue was destroyed during the night of 10–11 May 1941, during one of the last major attacks of
the Blitz. A
plaque commemorating the synagogue is placed on Duke's Place. == Leadership ==