The owners of Britain’s oldest mikveh are appealing to the public for help in uncovering the religious treasures it might contain.
The entrance to the 12th-century Jacob’s Well, in Bristol, was discovered in 1986, but access to the mikveh itself was blocked by rubble and brickwork.
The structure is too fragile to withstand drilling, so the owners, Antomarst building group, want to use sophisticated radar technology to detect whether artefacts are concealed inside.
A National Lottery bid by previous owners for £500,000 failed. Now Antomarst has launched an appeal to raise funds to pay for the work.
A spokesperson said: “In 1290, King Edward I expelled all Jews from England, forbidding them to take any of their religious artefacts or gold and silver coins.
“Experts have told us that these items could have been stashed in secret chambers in the mikveh.”
The company believes scanning and wall-penetrating equipment could be used without disturbing the structure.
The mikveh, which was visited by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis last week, has been listed by English Heritage and is open to the public.
Antomarst plan ultimately to create a learning centre at the site.