Strangers' Newsletter
Huguenots of Spitalfields Strangers' Newsletter - Issue 11
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Newsletter 11 Summer 2016 Thank you to those of you who have already booked places at the Immigrants of Spitalfields Festival. The programme of daily walks, talks and events can all be booked via Eventbrite. It is appropriate that one of the events Three Faiths: One Humanity starts at Sandys Row Synagogue. In 1766 the Huguenots purchased a plot of land there for £400 and founded L'Eglise de l'Artillerie (the Artillery Church). In 1786 it merged with the London Walloon Church and later became the Salem Chapel and Parliament Court Chapel. |
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In 1853, fifty Dutch Jewish families formed a Hebra (Friendly Society). As the community expanded, the Society raised sufficient funds to purchase the lease of the Chapel and in 1867 L'Eglise de l'Artillerie became Sandys Row Synagogue. The mortgage of £700 was paid off in 1929. |
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Nathan Solomon Joseph, one of the most famous synagogue architects of the time, remodeled this former Huguenot chapel. Many of the original features of the Georgian interior were retained, including the roof and the balcony. Archeologists have recently uncovered the footprint of the original chapel, whose entrance is still visible inside. The chapel once fronted onto Sandys Row (not Parliament Court as previously thought) and the original staircase, which is now inside the building, was formerly an exterior staircase possibly surrounded by burial grounds. |
Sandys Row Synagogue |
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So please join us on Tuesday 21st June at 10am to visit Sandys Row Synagogue (some Huguenot pews can still be seen), as well as Hawksmoor’s masterpiece Christ Church and Brick Lane Mosque. Come and meet the Rabbi, Pastor and Imam – and ask a few questions about their communities. Dr Dan DeHanas of King’s College, London will be our host. Fee £10. Click here to book your place for this unique event. |
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Have you met the Gentle Author of Spitalfields? If not, book to hear All About the Irish and see the remarkable portraits of the Spitalfields Nippers. Underground Cinema at The Water Poet, 9-11 Folgate Street at 5.00 pm on Sunday 19th June. There are rumours that refreshments will be served. We receive many enquiries from people who want to trace their Huguenot ancestry. To find out more, come to Dr. Kathy Chater’s talk at Hanbury Hall on Monday, 20th June at 11.00 am. To hear about the life and times of the silk weavers of Spitalfields – a story of riches to rags - don’t miss Mary Schoeser’s talk at 1.00 pm at Hanbury Hall on Monday, 20th June. At 3pm Professor Markman Ellis will tell us about the East India Company. His talk is entitled: "A Tea Drinking Nation: How Britain came to identify itself with a migrant alien in the early 18th century" – sound intriguing? Fee £5. To book, click HERE There are still some seats left to hear Dan Cruickshank’s talk about ‘the Outsiders’ at the Guildhall Library at 5.45 pm on Tuesday, 21st June. Called ‘The Other Migrants’. Dan will also be talking about the Roman Catholic communities in Spitalfields. |
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Huguenot Plaque |
Drop by the newly renovated Hanbury Hall, (and see the plaque outside dedicated to the Huguenots that was paid for by public subscription). You will be able to watch a weaving demonstration by the London Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers and hear Shagufta Shameen talking about the pleasure of wearing saris at Hanbury Hall on Monday 20th June. |
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Robert Winder (author of Bloody Foreigners) and Dr Philip Mansel will be in the Crypt at Christ Church at 6.30pm on Wednesday 22nd June for ‘Refugees or Migrants? Huguenots, Jacobites and Louise XIV”. For the fourth year running, Peter Dunne of the Water Poet has supported the Festivals and is kindly providing refreshments. This event is free – but do reserve a seat by clicking here. Please support other Festival events: A Touch of Bengal on 21st June at 3.00 pm at TownHouse, 5 Fournier Street, film screenings at the WhiteChapel Gallery and Toynbee Studios, the Close-Up Film Centre and the daily cultural Bengali, Jewish and Huguenot Walks. |
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Historic Places to Visit |
German Lutheran Church |
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Daily Walks |
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Huguenot Street |
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Huguenot Footsteps: Greenwich and Clerkenwell |
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We were welcomed to the Fan Museum by its founder, Madame Helene Alexander, who gave us a personal tour highlighting some of the more unusual fans. She was so inspirational and her enthusiasm and knowledge impressed us all. We were intrigued to realise that Fan Street, in the City of London, was where a group of Huguenots fan makers first settled after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes – later they moved to Soho. We sheltered in St Alphage and were treated to a superb lunchtime recital and had the chance to look at another of Hawksmoor’s remarkable churches. |
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Goldsmiths' Centre |
Happily, the sun chose to shine on us for the Clerkenwell visit. Although tickets were limited for the Goldsmiths’ Centre, those that were able to gain entry saw some stunningly beautiful items that quite took our breath away. The creativity, sheer talent and superb workmanship by young craftsmen and women was so impressive to see at close hand, particularly the skills of the engravers. Quite by chance, a descendant of Isaac Basire, the first of a Huguenot family of prolific map engravers was in the party. Isaac worked with John Rocque’s on his 1746 map of London. Our excellent guide, David Evans, took us for a walk in the area and brought so much of the Clerkenwell Huguenot heritage to life. |
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90 minute walks: Huguenot Footsteps in Spitalfields will be take place on 7th June, 5th July, 2nd August, 6th September and 4th October. We meet at 2pm outside Christ Church, Spitalfields. Donation is £10 towards the educational fund. No need to book – our guides will be there waiting for you and your friends. |
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Huguenot streets in Spitalfields |
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Companies with Huguenot ancestry Can you help us identify other Huguenot companies? Apparently Mr. Ede of Ede & Ravenscroft, the oldest tailor and robe makers who supply academic, legal and military dress, had Huguenot ancestry. We have been told that Mr. Tate of Tate & Lyle and Mr. Peek of Peek Freans were both of Huguenot descent. Do you know of other companies with Huguenot ancestry? |
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Dr. Tessa Murdoch at the V&A |
Dr. Tessa Murdoch |
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Cries of London |
The Gentle Author at the National Portrait Gallery |
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Christopher Marlowe |
Cristopher Marlowe |
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Spitalfields Garden Openings |
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We were asked… With our Immigrants of Spitalfields Festival almost upon us, we know that Bengali and Jewish ancestry is relevant so these organisations may be of some interest: Families in British India Society (FIBIS) www.fibis.org and the Jewish Genealogical Society of Great Britain www.jgsgb.org.uk. |
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Thank you Finally most of our events couldn’t take place without the support of our wonderful volunteers. We are still looking for some help for the NGS Spitalfields Garden Opening on Saturday 11th June and some events at the Immigrants of Spitalfields Festival. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Carole Bonifas at carole.bonifas@yahoo.com |
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The views and opinions expressed in these article are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Huguenots of Spitalfields charity. Please contact info@huguenotsofspitalfields.org with your comments, views and contributions or requests for previous issues of the Strangers' Newsletter. The charity is currently lead by volunteers so do bear with us if there is a delay in the reply to your message. Visit the Huguenots of Spitalfields website at http://www.huguenotsofspitalfields.org/ |
