Many of the Huguenots that arrived here in the 16th and 17th centuries were skilled silk weavers and set up looms in their homes in Spitalfields. The Spitalfields textile trade thrived until the mid 18th century when the importation of foreign wrought silks damaged the local business. By the early 19th century machinery was being invented which heralded the end of the hand-weaving industry.
British History On-line has a very useful page. And, of course, Spitalfields Life, the source of our photo (held at the Tower Hamlets Local History Collection) is interesting on the topic.
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