Dependence, intolerance and expulsion: The story of England’s medieval Jewish communities

Despite having clear liberties and the protection of the Crown in
the mid-12th century, the thriving Jewish communities of medieval
England were soon targeted for their perceived wealth and
religious practices. As Christian-Jewish relationships declined,
violence, heavy taxation and restrictions forced many Jews to
leave England even before Edward I’s fateful decision to expel
the entire community from the kingdom in 1290.


In this talk, Sean Cunningham, Head of Medieval Records at The
National Archives, explores the story of England’s medieval
Jewish communities to mark Holocaust Remembrance Day 2020 (27
January).