Statue of Licoricia of Winchester in place ahead of Prince Charles' visit

The sculpture of the prominent Jewish figure was driven into Winchester from Stroud, Gloucestershire on the back of a flatbed lorry at around midday before it was lifted onto its base outside the Discovery Centre on Jewry Street by a small crane, with the whole process taking almost two hours. 

Multiple members of the Licorica appeal, who have led the five-year project to install the statue, were in attendance to mark its arrival in the city, as was the sculptor, Ian Rank-Broadley.

Mr Rank-Broadley has produced many acclaimed works, among which are several designs for British coinage and the memorial statue of Princess Diana at Kensington Palace.

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Speaking to the Chronicle, he said: "It's an honour to be involved in this project and to be recognising someone who lived in 1250, a woman who made a significant contribution to this country in terms of financial expertise and one who is probably forgotten by many people today.

"It's a very significant piece of sculpture, I think it's probably the first public sculpture in the country of a Jewish woman, or one of very few.

"The Jewish community was always small in number but hugely significant.

"They were under the personal protection of the king, and he used and abused them to raise money, either by tax or to actually get loans.

"I mean whether it's the building of Westminster Abbey or actually funding wars, he needed the Jewish community to raise finance."

Despite having works placed around the country, Mr Rank-Broadley said Winchester ranked "very highly" among those spots.

"Winchester ranks very highly indeed, it was the seat of Saxon Kings and as we know was hugely important in an earlier period of history, and of course it has a magnificent cathedral alongside many other fantastic buildings," he added.

"I'll be delighted to be here on Thursday because it will be the culmination of many months of works, and also a great deal of aspiration for those people who first thought of the idea - it is very important.

"Hopefully once they see it, the people of Winchester will take it to their hearts and it will become part of the fabric of Winchester, an immortality of Licoricia."

The sculpture, which took around six-months to create, will remain partially covered until it is officially unveiled by Prince Charles later this week.

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It will then be blessed by the Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, Ephraim Mirvis on Thursday February 10.

Spectators are advised to gather at either The Arc on Jewry Street or near to Castle Avenue near The Great Hall from 11:30am.

There will be traffic and event stewards in place during the visit, supported by Police officers to ensure a safe and secure occasion.

Licoricia was a leading community figure in the 13th century.

Despite being widowed twice, she successfully brought up her family, conducted her business and prospered in a hostile society.

She was a major financier to Henry III and his Queen, Eleanor.

Money raised from Licoricia and from the estate of her second husband David contributed to the building of Westminster Abbey and its rich shrine to Edward the Confessor.

She was murdered along with her Christian maid in the city.

Jews were part of the English community from 1067 until expulsion in 1290, having arrived after the Norman Conquest in 1066 nearly a thousand years ago.

They contributed to the building of iconic places of worship such as Westminster Abbey and Lincoln Cathedral, and also other institutions, as well as to trade and culture.

Jewry Street in Winchester was where the Jewish community was based.

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Kimberley Barber