2. Canaries Flashcards
1
Q
Why did the Huguenots migrate to Spitalfields?
A
- From the 1570s onwards, Huguenots started arriving in the area as refugees from religious persecution
- The number of Huguenots increased rapidly in the 1680s after the French King Louis XIV overturned a law protecting their rights
2
Q
What were the experiences of the Huguenots?
A
- They were largely well received by the middle classes but reactions from the working class were mixed
- Many saw the new arrivals as a threat to their livelihoods, competing for work and willing to undercut wages
3
Q
How did the Huguenots change Spitalfields?
A
- The Huguenots had a significant social and economic impact on Spitalfields
- Many were highly skilled silk weavers who transformed the area with their new high quality French styles that soon became fashionable
- By 1700 there were about 500 master weavers and 15,000 looms around Spital Square
- The silk came from China, India and Italy, brought by ships of the EIC
- More and more people were attracted to Spitalfields and the area became a boom town, helped by a time of national peace and stability
- They also brought a new, profitable industry that opened up new markets
