Discover the story of a powerful 13th-century businesswoman and hear about plans for a statue of her in her home city
Licoricia of Winchester was a name to be reckoned with in 13th-century England, and not just because it suggested delicious sweetmeats. This astute and resourceful businesswoman, moneylender and friend to royalty was also a wife and mother, whose second husband David of Oxford – one of the wealthiest Jews in the country – divorced his first wife to marry her. She was twice confined in the Tower of London and sadly suffered the ultimate reversal of fortune – she was found murdered in her Winchester home in Jewry Street.
Her story plays an important role in the history of the Jewish community in England, particularly before its expulsion in 1290, and indeed a vital part of the history of women in Medieval England. Now the Jewish community is joining with others in her home city to celebrate the life of this prominent daughter and to share the often troubled early history of Winchester’s Jewish community.
An appeal is well underway to raise money for a statue by multi-award-winning sculptor Ian Rank-Broadley, to be sited in the heart of the city on Jewry Street itself. Last year, Judi Herman went to the unveiling of the maquette of the statue and met some of the key figures behind the project, including Maggie Carver, Chair of the Licoricia of Winchester Statue Appeal, and the sculptor himself. Before signing off, Judi pays a brief visit to Winchester to check out the proposed site of the statue, appropriately located outside the Winchester Discovery Centre.
By Judi Herman
Sunday 19 January sees Carole Weinberg deliver a talk about the Licoricia of Winchester. 10.30am. FREE. Menorah Synagogue, Manchester, M22 4RZ. 016 1428 7746. www.menorah.org.uk
Visit https://licoricia.org to find out more about the statue.