SPECIAL SERIES: The Jamatkhana – A Place of Spiritual and Social Convergence

5 Palace Gate

Editor’s Note: For almost 3 decades, from the late 1950’s until 1985 when the first Ismaili Centre was officially opened by Britain’s then Prime Minister, The Right Honourable, The Baroness  Thatcher, 5 Palace Gate remained the most famous address for Ismailis visiting the United Kingdom. It gained more prominence in the early 1970’s after the large scale arrival of Ismailis owing to economic hardship in Tanzania and the forced expulsion of the Jamat, along with other Asians from Uganda. Every Ismaili who had lived in London as well as the new arrivals found comfort in this narrow 4 storey iconic building, which contained a Jamatkhana, institutional offices, recreational facilities, a library, classrooms etc. Ismaili Orbit, perhaps the first Ismaili magazine in the Western World, was published here and then later came Ilm  and Ismaili Forum. 5 Palace Gate epitomized efficient usage of space.

Please click on image for article. Centre photo: The complete block, 3 -15 Palace Gate, photographed in 1975 which includes the Jamatkhana at the near end. Photo: London Metropolitan Archives. © City of London.

Just yards away, as one came out of the building, one would cross over to the Kensington Gardens and walk all the way up to the Notting Hill Gate/Bayswater area for delicious Indian food. Stores like Barkers, C & A were minutes away on Kensington Hight Street. The Commonwealth Institute was about a mile away. A “32 flavours” (please note, not “31”) ice cream parlour opened in the late 1970’s about 1/2 a kilometre away, towards Gloucester Road Tube Station and then a small casino a couple of doors away.

Hundreds of stories and experiences can be told about 5 Palace Gate. One of these is expressed by Navyn Naran. She was then only eleven years old but what she says will trigger hundreds of other memories. Please share them with our readers with your feedback or a full-scale article for this special and unique Jamatkhana series that Simerg launched recently. Please click 5 Palace Gate.