Historic England (HE) has published ‘A Brief History of the English Mosque’ on the discovery of the architectural evolution of the mosque in Britain, from the conversion of houses to contemporary expressions of mosque architecture.
… Before the 20th century, only a handful of mosques existed in Britain…
HE writes:
Records trace the presence of Muslims in Britain back centuries, initially arriving for work and trade. And during the First and Second World Wars, around half a million Muslim soldiers fought for the British Empire.
From 1887 up to the Second World War there were only a handful of mosques in the country. After the independence and Partition of India in 1947, Muslim migration increased, particularly from India and the newly formed Pakistan.
As new communities settled across England, they established new mosques to provide for their religious and social needs.
How many mosques are in England?
Before the 20th century, only a handful of mosques existed in Britain. By 2012, there were an estimated 1,500 mosques. They range enormously in design and scale and illustrate the diversity of Britain’s Muslim population.
It’s thought that fewer than 20% of Britain’s mosques are purpose-built. The majority are converted houses or other adapted buildings.
