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While some Jewish moneylenders - such as Aaron of Lincoln and Licoricia of Oxford - became extremely rich, many Jews filled a whole range of occupations within the communities where they lived, from doctors to fishmongers. They lived in many parts of England and Wales, sometimes in distinct communities practising their rituals, and sometimes alongside the wider population.

They were allowed to mix freely and were given a ‘‘Charter of Liberties’’ by King Henry I which meant they could go to the safety of the King’s castles if they were in danger. This meant the general population sometimes saw them as being on the side of the rulers. They also had to pay higher taxes than everyone else in return for protection from the Crown.

It is difficult to get a full picture of the lives of Jews by the 13th century because we do not have any written accounts from Jewish people living at the time. They do appear in some tax records and legal documents and there are occasional buildings recorded, such as the Jew’s house in Lincoln and the remains of a ritual bath in Bristol, however there is still a great deal that we do not yet know.