diff --git a/js/nostr/subscriptionManager.js b/js/nostr/subscriptionManager.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fcabb19d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/js/nostr/subscriptionManager.js
@@ -0,0 +1,194 @@
+// SubscriptionManager (L1) — the single chokepoint for relay reads.
+//
+// Per docs/architecture-refactor.md, NOTHING outside this module should call
+// pool.sub / pool.list directly. It generalizes relaySubscriptionService by:
+//   - defaulting to a bounded, health-gated relay set (so callers stop fanning
+//     every query across a user's full ~20-relay NIP-65 list),
+//   - deduping one-shot list() fetches that are identical and in-flight,
+//   - keeping a registry of active live subscriptions and re-issuing them on
+//     relay reconnect (instead of every subsystem re-subscribing on its own,
+//     which was the reconnect-storm amplifier).
+//
+// Callers are expected to pass BATCHED filters (one filter covering many ids,
+// e.g. {kinds:[1984], "#e":[...all]}) — never one subscription per item.
+
+import { relaySubscriptionService } from "../services/relaySubscriptionService.js";
+import { devLogger, userLogger } from "../utils/logger.js";
+
+const DEFAULT_LIST_TIMEOUT_MS = 8000;
+
+function normalizeRelays(relays) {
+  if (!Array.isArray(relays)) return [];
+  const seen = new Set();
+  const out = [];
+  for (const r of relays) {
+    const url = typeof r === "string" ? r.trim() : "";
+    if (url && !seen.has(url)) {
+      seen.add(url);
+      out.push(url);
+    }
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+function stableSignature(value) {
+  if (Array.isArray(value)) {
+    return `[${value.map(stableSignature).join(",")}]`;
+  }
+  if (value && typeof value === "object") {
+    const keys = Object.keys(value).sort();
+    return `{${keys.map((k) => `${JSON.stringify(k)}:${stableSignature(value[k])}`).join(",")}}`;
+  }
+  return JSON.stringify(value);
+}
+
+/**
+ * @param {object} deps
+ * @param {() => object|null} deps.getPool        returns the relay pool (pool.sub/pool.list)
+ * @param {() => string[]} deps.getDefaultRelays  bounded, health-gated read relays
+ * @param {object} [deps.subscriptions]           relaySubscriptionService (injectable for tests)
+ * @param {object} [deps.logger]
+ */
+export function createSubscriptionManager({
+  getPool,
+  getDefaultRelays,
+  subscriptions = relaySubscriptionService,
+  logger = { dev: devLogger, user: userLogger },
+} = {}) {
+  // Active live subscriptions, keyed by logical `key`, for reconnect re-issue.
+  const active = new Map();
+  // In-flight one-shot list() promises, keyed by signature, for dedup.
+  const inflightLists = new Map();
+
+  const resolveRelays = (relays) => {
+    const explicit = normalizeRelays(relays);
+    if (explicit.length) return explicit;
+    try {
+      return normalizeRelays(getDefaultRelays?.() || []);
+    } catch (error) {
+      logger.dev?.warn?.("[subscriptionManager] getDefaultRelays threw", error);
+      return [];
+    }
+  };
+
+  /**
+   * Open (or update) a live subscription. Deduped by `key`. Returns a handle.
+   */
+  function subscribe({ key, filters, relays, onEvent, onEose, onClose, label = "sub" }) {
+    if (!key || typeof key !== "string") {
+      logger.dev?.warn?.("[subscriptionManager] subscribe requires a string key");
+      return { update() {}, close() {} };
+    }
+    const pool = getPool?.();
+    const record = { key, filters, onEvent, onEose, onClose, label };
+    active.set(key, record);
+
+    const open = (nextFilters, nextRelays) => {
+      record.filters = nextFilters;
+      if (nextRelays !== undefined) record.relays = nextRelays;
+      const relayList = resolveRelays(record.relays);
+      subscriptions.ensureSubscription({
+        key,
+        pool,
+        relays: relayList,
+        filters: record.filters,
+        label,
+        onEvent,
+        onEose,
+        onClose,
+      });
+    };
+
+    open(filters, relays);
+
+    return {
+      update({ filters: nextFilters, relays: nextRelays } = {}) {
+        open(nextFilters ?? record.filters, nextRelays);
+      },
+      close() {
+        active.delete(key);
+        subscriptions.stopSubscription(key, "handle-close");
+      },
+    };
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * One-shot fetch (resolves on EOSE). Deduped while identical requests are
+   * in-flight, health-gated, with a timeout fallback so a dead relay set can't
+   * hang the caller forever.
+   */
+  function list({ filters, relays, timeoutMs = DEFAULT_LIST_TIMEOUT_MS } = {}) {
+    const pool = getPool?.();
+    if (!pool || typeof pool.list !== "function") {
+      logger.dev?.warn?.("[subscriptionManager] pool.list unavailable");
+      return Promise.resolve([]);
+    }
+    const relayList = resolveRelays(relays);
+    if (!relayList.length) return Promise.resolve([]);
+
+    const signature = stableSignature({ relays: relayList.slice().sort(), filters });
+    const existing = inflightLists.get(signature);
+    if (existing) return existing;
+
+    const promise = (async () => {
+      try {
+        const result = await Promise.race([
+          Promise.resolve(pool.list(relayList, filters)),
+          new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(() => resolve(null), timeoutMs)),
+        ]);
+        return Array.isArray(result) ? result : [];
+      } catch (error) {
+        logger.dev?.warn?.("[subscriptionManager] list() failed", error);
+        return [];
+      } finally {
+        inflightLists.delete(signature);
+      }
+    })();
+
+    inflightLists.set(signature, promise);
+    return promise;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Re-issue all active live subscriptions. Call after a relay (re)connects so
+   * subscriptions dropped by a flaky relay are restored — once, centrally —
+   * instead of each subsystem re-subscribing independently.
+   */
+  function handleReconnect() {
+    const pool = getPool?.();
+    for (const record of active.values()) {
+      // The old subscription was dropped by the disconnected relay, but
+      // relaySubscriptionService still holds it (same signature) and would
+      // reuse the dead handle. Stop it first to force a fresh REQ.
+      subscriptions.stopSubscription(record.key, "reconnect");
+      const relayList = resolveRelays(record.relays);
+      subscriptions.ensureSubscription({
+        key: record.key,
+        pool,
+        relays: relayList,
+        filters: record.filters,
+        label: record.label,
+        onEvent: record.onEvent,
+        onEose: record.onEose,
+        onClose: record.onClose,
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  function closeAll(reason = "close-all") {
+    for (const key of Array.from(active.keys())) {
+      subscriptions.stopSubscription(key, reason);
+    }
+    active.clear();
+    inflightLists.clear();
+  }
+
+  return {
+    subscribe,
+    list,
+    handleReconnect,
+    closeAll,
+    // introspection for tests/telemetry
+    getActiveKeys: () => Array.from(active.keys()),
+  };
+}
diff --git a/js/services/relaySubscriptionService.js b/js/services/relaySubscriptionService.js
index b5457449..ccdbebc2 100644
--- a/js/services/relaySubscriptionService.js
+++ b/js/services/relaySubscriptionService.js
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ function buildSignature({ relays, filters }) {
   });
 }
 
-class RelaySubscriptionService {
+export class RelaySubscriptionService {
   constructor() {
     this.subscriptions = new Map();
   }
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 2e4aa53b..ad541440 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
     "ci:beacon": "npm run build:beacon",
     "format": "prettier --cache --write css/tailwind.source.css css/tokens.css css/docs.css \"docs/**/*.html\" tailwind.config.cjs README.md CONTRIBUTING.md",
     "audit": "node scripts/daily-design-system-audit.mjs",
-    "lint": "npm run lint:css && npm run lint:hex && npm run lint:inline-styles && npm run lint:tokens && npm run lint:tailwind-brackets && npm run lint:tailwind-colors && npm run lint:file-size && npm run lint:innerhtml && npm run lint:assets && npm run lint:sw-compat",
+    "lint": "npm run lint:css && npm run lint:hex && npm run lint:inline-styles && npm run lint:tokens && npm run lint:tailwind-brackets && npm run lint:tailwind-colors && npm run lint:file-size && npm run lint:innerhtml && npm run lint:assets && npm run lint:sw-compat && npm run lint:pool-access",
     "lint:file-size": "node scripts/check-file-size.mjs",
     "lint:innerhtml": "node scripts/check-innerhtml.mjs",
     "lint:css": "stylelint css/tailwind.source.css css/tokens.css css/docs.css",
@@ -59,7 +59,8 @@
     "torch:lock": "npm run --prefix torch lock:lock",
     "torch:health": "npm run --prefix torch lock:health",
     "torch:memory:list": "node torch/bin/torch-lock.mjs list-memories",
-    "torch:memory:inspect": "node torch/bin/torch-lock.mjs inspect-memory"
+    "torch:memory:inspect": "node torch/bin/torch-lock.mjs inspect-memory",
+    "lint:pool-access": "node scripts/check-direct-pool-access.mjs"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@playwright/test": "^1.58.2",
diff --git a/scripts/check-direct-pool-access.mjs b/scripts/check-direct-pool-access.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7e0d73b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/check-direct-pool-access.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+/**
+ * Lint: enforce the SubscriptionManager (L1) chokepoint.
+ *
+ * Per docs/architecture-refactor.md, relay reads must go through
+ * js/nostr/subscriptionManager.js — nothing else should call pool.sub /
+ * pool.list / legacySub / legacyList / subscribeMap directly.
+ *
+ * Files that still do are GRANDFATHERED below; the allowlist must only SHRINK as
+ * phases migrate subsystems. A new file using direct pool access fails the lint;
+ * an allowlisted file is reported as a remaining migration target.
+ *
+ * Usage:
+ *   node scripts/check-direct-pool-access.mjs            # enforce (exit 1)
+ *   node scripts/check-direct-pool-access.mjs --report   # report only (exit 0)
+ */
+
+import { readFileSync, readdirSync, statSync } from "node:fs";
+import { join, relative } from "node:path";
+
+const ROOT = new URL("..", import.meta.url).pathname.replace(/\/$/, "");
+const SOURCE_DIR = join(ROOT, "js");
+
+// Patterns that indicate a direct relay-read outside L1.
+const PATTERNS = [/\.pool\.sub\(/, /\.pool\.list\(/, /\blegacySub\(/, /\blegacyList\(/, /\bsubscribeMap\(/];
+
+// The only modules allowed to touch the pool directly.
+const L1_FILES = new Set([
+  "js/nostr/subscriptionManager.js",
+  "js/services/relaySubscriptionService.js",
+  "js/nostr/toolkit.js", // vendored pool shim (defines legacySub/legacyList)
+  "js/nostr/managers/ConnectionManager.js", // owns the pool lifecycle / health probe
+]);
+
+// Grandfathered: not yet migrated. SHRINK this list as phases land; do not grow.
+const GRANDFATHERED = new Set([
+  "js/adminListStore.js",
+  "js/app.js",
+  "js/channelProfile.js",
+  "js/feedEngine/watchHistoryFeed.js",
+  "js/nostr/client.js",
+  "js/reactionCounter.js",
+  "js/relayManager.js",
+  "js/searchView.js",
+  "js/services/authService.js",
+  "js/services/dmNostrService.js",
+  "js/services/moderationService.js",
+  "js/services/nostrService.js",
+]);
+
+function collectJsFiles(dir) {
+  const out = [];
+  for (const entry of readdirSync(dir, { withFileTypes: true })) {
+    const full = join(dir, entry.name);
+    if (entry.isDirectory()) out.push(...collectJsFiles(full));
+    else if (entry.isFile() && entry.name.endsWith(".js")) out.push(full);
+  }
+  return out;
+}
+
+const reportOnly = process.argv.includes("--report");
+const violations = [];
+const remaining = [];
+
+for (const filePath of collectJsFiles(SOURCE_DIR)) {
+  const rel = relative(ROOT, filePath);
+  if (rel.endsWith(".min.js") || L1_FILES.has(rel)) continue;
+  const content = readFileSync(filePath, "utf8");
+  if (!PATTERNS.some((re) => re.test(content))) continue;
+  if (GRANDFATHERED.has(rel)) remaining.push(rel);
+  else violations.push(rel);
+}
+
+// Allowlist entries that no longer need to be there (already migrated) — nudge.
+const stale = [...GRANDFATHERED].filter(
+  (rel) => !remaining.includes(rel),
+);
+
+if (remaining.length) {
+  console.log(`\n${remaining.length} file(s) still using direct pool access (migration targets):`);
+  for (const r of remaining.sort()) console.log(`  • ${r}`);
+}
+if (stale.length) {
+  console.log(`\n${stale.length} allowlist entr(y/ies) can be REMOVED (already migrated):`);
+  for (const r of stale.sort()) console.log(`  ✓ ${r}`);
+}
+
+if (violations.length) {
+  console.error(`\n${violations.length} NEW direct pool access violation(s):`);
+  for (const v of violations.sort()) console.error(`  ✗ ${v}`);
+  console.error(
+    "\nRoute relay reads through js/nostr/subscriptionManager.js (subscribe/list).",
+  );
+  if (!reportOnly) process.exit(1);
+} else {
+  console.log("\nNo new direct pool access. (Allowlist must only shrink.)");
+}
diff --git a/tests/nostr/subscription-manager.test.mjs b/tests/nostr/subscription-manager.test.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..5c42f2b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/nostr/subscription-manager.test.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+// Scenario tests for the L1 SubscriptionManager (docs/architecture-refactor.md).
+// Uses a fake pool + the REAL relaySubscriptionService, asserting externally
+// observable transport behavior (REQ counts, relay targeting), not internals.
+
+import { test } from "node:test";
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import { createSubscriptionManager } from "../../js/nostr/subscriptionManager.js";
+import { RelaySubscriptionService } from "../../js/services/relaySubscriptionService.js";
+
+function makeFakePool() {
+  let subCalls = 0;
+  let listCalls = 0;
+  const lastSubRelays = [];
+  return {
+    subCalls: () => subCalls,
+    listCalls: () => listCalls,
+    lastSubRelays: () => lastSubRelays,
+    sub(relays) {
+      subCalls += 1;
+      lastSubRelays.length = 0;
+      lastSubRelays.push(...relays);
+      const handlers = {};
+      return {
+        on: (ev, cb) => {
+          handlers[ev] = cb;
+        },
+        unsub: () => {},
+      };
+    },
+    list() {
+      listCalls += 1;
+      return Promise.resolve([{ id: "evt-1" }]);
+    },
+  };
+}
+
+function makeManager(pool, defaultRelays = ["wss://core1", "wss://core2"]) {
+  return createSubscriptionManager({
+    getPool: () => pool,
+    getDefaultRelays: () => defaultRelays,
+    subscriptions: new RelaySubscriptionService(), // fresh per manager (isolation)
+    logger: { dev: { warn() {}, log() {} }, user: { warn() {} } },
+  });
+}
+
+// SCN-subman-dedup: identical (key + filters) subscribe calls share ONE REQ.
+test("subscribe dedups by key — identical calls do not reopen", () => {
+  const pool = makeFakePool();
+  const m = makeManager(pool);
+  const f = [{ kinds: [1984], "#e": ["a".repeat(64)] }];
+  m.subscribe({ key: "reports", filters: f });
+  m.subscribe({ key: "reports", filters: f });
+  assert.equal(pool.subCalls(), 1, "same key+filters must reuse one subscription");
+});
+
+// SCN-subman-default-relays: with no relays given, uses the bounded core set.
+test("subscribe targets the health-gated default relay set when none given", () => {
+  const pool = makeFakePool();
+  const m = makeManager(pool, ["wss://core1", "wss://core2"]);
+  m.subscribe({ key: "videos", filters: [{ kinds: [30078] }] });
+  assert.deepEqual(pool.lastSubRelays(), ["wss://core1", "wss://core2"]);
+});
+
+// SCN-subman-batched-update: updating the id set re-REQs once (not per id).
+test("handle.update re-issues a single batched subscription", () => {
+  const pool = makeFakePool();
+  const m = makeManager(pool);
+  const h = m.subscribe({ key: "reports", filters: [{ kinds: [1984], "#e": ["a".repeat(64)] }] });
+  h.update({ filters: [{ kinds: [1984], "#e": ["a".repeat(64), "b".repeat(64)] }] });
+  assert.equal(pool.subCalls(), 2, "one initial + one updated REQ — still O(1), not per-id");
+});
+
+// SCN-subman-list-dedup: identical in-flight list() requests share one REQ.
+test("list dedups identical in-flight requests", async () => {
+  const pool = makeFakePool();
+  const m = makeManager(pool);
+  const filters = [{ kinds: [0], authors: ["a".repeat(64)] }];
+  const [r1, r2] = await Promise.all([m.list({ filters }), m.list({ filters })]);
+  assert.equal(pool.listCalls(), 1, "concurrent identical lists must coalesce to one REQ");
+  assert.deepEqual(r1, r2);
+});
+
+// SCN-subman-reconnect: reconnect re-issues active subs once, centrally.
+test("handleReconnect re-issues active subscriptions (and not closed ones)", () => {
+  const pool = makeFakePool();
+  const m = makeManager(pool);
+  m.subscribe({ key: "reports", filters: [{ kinds: [1984] }] });
+  const vids = m.subscribe({ key: "videos", filters: [{ kinds: [30078] }] });
+  assert.equal(pool.subCalls(), 2);
+
+  vids.close(); // closed subs must NOT come back on reconnect
+  m.handleReconnect();
+
+  // Only "reports" should be re-issued -> exactly one more sub call.
+  assert.equal(pool.subCalls(), 3, "only the still-active sub is re-issued on reconnect");
+  assert.deepEqual(m.getActiveKeys(), ["reports"]);
+});