EARLY MODERN - HUGUENOTS IN SOHO & SPITALFIELDS Flashcards
Why did the Huguenots migrate?
Religious persecution - there were 2 waves
• First group after St Bartholomew’s Day Massacre in Paris, France in 1572 saw between 5,000 and 25,000
Protestants killed.
• Second group: Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 by King Louis XIV made Protestantism illegal in France and led to a 25000 migrants who go to London.
• English King Charles Il offered them Denizen status in 1681, making England more appealing.
What were the experiences of Huguenots like?
Huguenots Experiences:
• Culture kept their culture alive; language, clothes, food and religion. 1500 all five of the printers in England using Printing press were European (before books had to be copied by hand).
• Religious Freedom: Huguenots found freedom to practice their faith, establishing churches like La Patente in London in 1681, there were 9 by 1700. Community saw them as hardworking, religious and supporting the poor.
• Monarch/ Government support: 1709 the government passed the Foreign Protestant Naturalisation Act
- allowed to live in England if they swore loyalty to the crown. They provided support and a relief fund.
• Support from monarchs:
- Charles Il =Huguenots ‘denizen status’
- Foreign Protestants Nationality Act in 1708 gave them more security
- William Ill and Mary Il were joint monarchs and protestants. 1689 - declared would ‘support, aid and assist Huguenots to make their lives ‘comfortable and easy’
- Relief was set up between 1689 and 1693 the monarchs donated £39,000 to help settle Huguenots in London
Huguenot experiences specific to Spitalfields & Soho
• In London the main settlements were Soho and Spitalfields were rent was cheaper and the London
• They became rich and large houses were built.
Guilds (association of craftspeople who control production) had less power.
Their faith meant they thought it was their duty to work hard (‘Protestant work ethic)
• Lots of large workshops were created and highly skilled Huguenot weavers were admitted to the Weavers Company Guild.
• There was a lot of demand for silk: production increased 20x with the Huguenots, much was exported bringing wealth to England.
• Had their own churches and communities grew around them. By 1700 there were 9 Huguenot churches built. They allowed them to keep their identity and culture and helped them be integrated in Britain as locals saw them as hardworking and religious.
• Riots threatened to break out in Spitalfields in 1675, 1681, 1683 because English people thought they were taking their jobs. Riots were stopped quickly as they promised to share their techniques.
What were impacts of the. Huguenots?
They had skills in Gold & Silver smithing & in silk weaving
They were skilled at silk-weaving and made brocades; they boosted England’s silk production by 20x
Huguenots invested £104000 in the Bank of England in London, helping London to become a financial hub.
Huguenots brought new words like brocades & invested and joined the Royal Society, who was established in 1660 and experimented in science.
