British Mandate Mamilla

british demolition of buildings along old city walls, 1944

the british arrival in jerusalem heralded rational philosophy of infrastructure planning , development. respected cultural , historic heritage , attempted preserve such elements within blossoming construction of modern city. city walls identified such element, british workers acted clear away stalls on perimeter , maintain open area between walls , rest of new city in interest of aesthetically pleasing visual basin. same token, planners demolished ottoman clock tower preserve historic skyline.

mamilla in ruins, c. 1949



no man s land in jerusalem, between israel , jordan. photo (taken approx. 1964) depicts old city wall, dormition abbey (on far right), , tower of david (center-left). taken building of geology dep. of hebrew university of jerusalem, located on mamilla street.

following approval of 1947 un partition plan, arab mob ransacked , burned of district , stabbed of jewish residents in course of 1947 jerusalem riots, 1 of events leading area s decades-long stagnation.