Group    From 1500  To 1800

The Huguenots

Categories: Religion

Countries: France

French Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. The name emerged in 1560 but its derivation is unknown. The faith attracted skilled city workers such as weavers, goldsmiths and fan-makers but persecution tended to be their lot; the pictures shows the 1572 St Bartholomew Day's massacre when almost 6,000 were killed.  

The 1598 Edict of Nantes established Roman Catholicism as the religion of France but set reasonably acceptable terms for non-Catholics, such as the Huguenots. But over time conditions for them became harsher.

1685 King Louis XIV gave them the choice of conversion (to Catholicism) or prison. Some found a third option and relocated to London, bringing their skills and establishing, mainly in the East End, thriving industries in silk, lace, weaving, fan-making, etc.

Spitalfields Life has a post tying together the Hugeunots of Soho.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
The Huguenots

Commemorated ati

French hospital

Site of the French hospital founded by royal charter in 1718 to house the poo...

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French Protestant Church - Soho Square

To the glory of God & in grateful memory of H. M. King Edward VI who by h...

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Hanbury Hall - blue oval plaque

This plaque has a shortened version of the text on the old white plaque.

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Hanbury Hall - tiled plaque

These 20 Delft tiles are decorated with scenes and symbols important in Hugue...

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Hanbury Hall - white plaque - removed

Christ Church Hall Built in 1719 as a French Hugeonot {sic} church it stood b...

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Show all 9

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St Michaels Church at Burleigh and Exeter Streets

St Michaels Church at Burleigh and Exeter Streets

St. Michaels Church was erected in 1833 at the S. W. corner of Burleigh and Exeter Streets. In 1905 St Michael's parish was united to St Paul's Covent Garden, by an order in council, the church was...

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1 memorial
The International Bonhoeffer Society

The International Bonhoeffer Society

A non-profit, ecumenical, and interfaith scholarly organisation which preserves the memory and enhances the knowledge of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his legacy.

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1 memorial
St James Church Upper Edmonton

St James Church Upper Edmonton

De-consecrated and converted into flats, probably in the 1980s.

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Collegiate Church of St Martin

Collegiate Church of St Martin

Collegiate Church of St Martin le Grand, demolished 1548 in the Reformation.

Building, Religion

1 memorial