Belia of Winchester

Belia was a prominent moneylender in medieval England, and a powerful member of Bedford community.

With the overall economic growth in 13th and 14th centuries, moneylending represented an important entrepreneurial activity and source of wealth for many European Jewish women, especially widows. Belia, a daughter-in-law of Shera (d. 1244), another prominent Jewish moneylender began her business activities in 1235, after the death of her husband Deulebene, the Chera's eldest son. She ran a business on her own or with partners. Since her reputation grew, in 1241 she was elected as a person responsible for Elias, her brother-in-law and the Winchester’s hostage who was in charge for collecting the community's tallage. It is interesting to note that she was the first and only woman in medieval England elected to such a position. Winchester had a thriving Jewish community in that time.

After she married to Pictavin of Bedford, who became her second husband, she moved to Bedford where she continued with her business activities. Her sons, Moses and Lumbard, stayed in Winchester to look after family business. In the second marriage she also had two sons, Jacob and Benedict. After Pictavin died in 1261, she inherited two messuages in the parish of St Paul, Bedford.

Belia became a powerful member of Bedford community as well, and she often appeared in court in Bedford and in Winchester, pursuing debtors, both her own and Chera's.