March – The Jewish Heritage of Medieval Norwich – Sophie Cabot

For our March meeting we welcome Sophie Cabot who will be talking about the history of the Jewish community in medieval Norwich.

Sophie is an archaeologist, and a local heritage expert based at Norwich Castle Museum. She previously worked for Norfolk Record Office and at Norwich HEART where she was responsible for, amongst other things, the Norwich Blue Plaques scheme and Heritage Open Days. She is of Jewish heritage, and was asked to act as an expert for the BBC ‘History Cold Case’ series.

From the 1090s to the 1290s Jews formed a distinct and important minority community in England – in fact the only legal religious minority community in the United Kingdom.

As one of the great cities of Medieval England, Norwich had a thriving Jewry of anything up to about 200 individuals.

Sophie will speak about this fascinating and little known history. She will cover its highs as a partner in the creation of Norwich’s great Romanesque building projects, and as creators of art, but also its tragic lows, including the mass murder of members of the community in 1190, and the origins of the Norwich Blood Libel.

The meeting is on Saturday March 14th at Needham Village Hall, High Road, Needham, IP20 9LB at 2.00pm. Refreshments will be served. Admission is £3.00, all welcome.