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.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

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...

Read More

French Protestant Church - Soho Square

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

Read More

Hanbury Hall - blue oval plaque

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

Read More

Hanbury Hall - tiled plaque

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

Read More

Hanbury Hall - white plaque - removed

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

Read More

Show all 9

Other Subjects

Saint John Houghton

Saint John Houghton

One of the 18 Carthusian Martyrs. Prior of The London Charterhouse - a Carthusian monastery. Refused to accept Henry VIII as the head of the church of England. Martyred at Tyburn.

Person, Religion, Tragedy

2 memorials
A. H. Merryman

A. H. Merryman

Committee Member of Kingston Spiritualist Church in 1927.

Person, Religion

1 memorial
Diocese of Sourozh

Diocese of Sourozh

The Russian Orthodox Great Britain and Ireland diocese. The Archbishop is known as Metropolitan, the first being Metropolitan Anthony who held the post until his death.

Concept, Religion, Russia

1 memorial
Lesnes Abbey

Lesnes Abbey

Pronounced Lez-ness. Founded by Richard de Lucy, as a penance for his role in the murder of Thomas Becket. It never grew to any great size, and was closed by Cardinal Wolsey under a licence to supp...

Place, Architecture, Religion

1 memorial
Rev. A Walbaum

Rev. A Walbaum

Founded and then served for 46 years as Honorary Secretary and Chaplain of the German Hospital and was described in "Migration and Transfer from Germany to Britain, 1660-1914" as the "soul of the h...

Person, Politics & Administration, Religion

1 memorial