Part of Winchester Heritage Open Days Extraordinary Women series – hear the story of one of the most influential women in Southern England in the 13th century – Licoricia of Winchester. Following the talk by Dr Hannah Meyer there will be a Q&A.

DATE AND TIME: Sat 15 September 2018, 14:30 – 15:30 BST
LOCATION: Winchester Discovery Centre, Jewry Street, Winchester, SO23 8SB.

Dr Hannah Meyer studied in depth thirteenth century England and so we are delighted she has agreed to present a talk on Licoricia of Winchester and her husband David of Oxford, who were the ‘power couple’ of this period. Hannah will be sharing details of Licoricia’s life and her achievements as a Jewish business woman, wife and mother. Her story is quite extraordinary.

Licoricia of Winchester, was the most notable English Jewish women of her time. A highly successful businesswoman and moneylender, she lived and worked in Winchester in the first part of the thirteenth century and many of her clients were members of the royal family, the aristocracy, and the Church.

After her marriage in 1242 to David of Oxford, one of the wealthiest English Jews, she settled in Oxford, where she assisted her husband in his business dealings. When David died in1244, all the chests across the country that contained the official records of the debts owed to him were sealed and taken to the Jewish Exchequer for assessment. In order to prevent any attempt at interference Licoricia was immediately imprisoned in the Tower of London until this process was completed. Only after she had repurchased of all the debts owed to David was she released. Returning to live with her family in Winchester, Licoricia was left in control of sufficient wealth to engage in substantial and widespread business activities until her sudden death in 1277.

Tickets are also available from Winchester Discovery Centre