The Manchester area is home to Britain’s second biggest Jewish community. Yet it was not until 1788, just over a hundred years after Oliver Cromwell allowed the Jews to return to the country, that the first recorded Jewish presence appeared in Manchester: Hamilton Levi, a flower dealer of Long Millgate, listed in that year’s trade directory.

There are so many kosher tales in Manchester we have two Jewish Manchester tours. On this, the city centre tour, we begin with one of the most remarkable stories in Jewish history: how a research chemist at the university single-handedly convinced the outgoing prime minister to throw Britain’s weight behind a new nationalist movement, Zionism. Later we check into the Midland Hotel to hear some ferkakte stories about Chopin, the Schwabes and the Sieffs; to St Ann’s Church (a church, on a Jewish walk already) and Jackson’s Row synagogue (that’s more like it). Outside the Town Hall (we can’t get in for a bit) we discover the man who allowed the Jews back into England.