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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Gravel Pit Chapel

Gravel Pit Chapel

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Stratford Langthorne Abbey

Stratford Langthorne Abbey

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Rev. Austin Thompson

Rev. Austin Thompson

Born Malta, son of an army man. From his alma mater, the King's School Canterbury "From 1909 to 1916 he was Vicar of St Peter's Ealing and from 1916 until his death he was Vicar of St Peter's Eaton...

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Eugene Wood

Eugene Wood

Dean of Armagh 1590 -1609/10. From University of Houston:  In 1597 his wife was Joan, widow of John Ballett. Wood's Cathedral was St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh, Church of Ireland.  This is not Ro...

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Kingston Spiritualist Church

Kingston Spiritualist Church

Our photo of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle officiating at the church's opening comes from a previous incarnation (appropriate expression?) of the Kingston Spiritualist Church website. Now, 2020, there is ...

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