Spitalfields - Huguenot Spitalfields Flashcards
Who were the Huguenots and when did they start arriving in Spitalfields?
The Huguenots were French Protestants fleeing religious persecution, arriving in Spitalfields from the 1570s onwards, with a significant increase in the 1680s.
What factors attracted the Huguenots to settle in Spitalfields?
Spitalfields offered empty properties and space for building, an existing silk weaving industry, proximity to a French Protestant church, and drew in other Protestant Dissenters.
What were some characteristics of the Huguenots who settled in Spitalfields?
They were often highly skilled in business, had self-reliance, and supported their community. Many were silk weavers who brought new French styles to the area.
What was the impact of the Huguenots on Spitalfields’ economy?
The Huguenots brought a profitable silk weaving industry, opening up new markets and attracting more people to the area. Spitalfields became a boom town, with around 500 master weavers and 15,000 looms by 1700.
Describe the religious and cultural practices of the early generations of Huguenots in Spitalfields.
The early Huguenots in Spitalfields were Calvinists, maintaining their distinct faith and traditions. They had their own churches, but by law, had to bury their dead in Anglican churchyards.
How were the Huguenots received by the local community in Spitalfields?
While the middle classes largely welcomed the Huguenots, tensions arose among the working classes who saw them as competition for jobs and wages, leading to some hostility and even armed resistance.
What measures were taken by authorities in response to tensions between the Huguenots and the local community?
King Charles II stationed Horse Guards around Spitalfields in 1683 to maintain order, and in 1709, Parliament passed a law naturalizing Huguenots as English citizens despite some opposition.
