Huguenots of Spitalfields Strangers' Newsletter - Issue 19

Newsletter 19 Winter 2018

Huguenot Month Highlights

The time just flew by – 44 events, 24 speakers, over 1,700 participants and sunshine throughout (almost)! This is the fifth time you have supported efforts to raise awareness of this country’s remarkable Huguenot heritage.

This year we tried to reach out to new audiences hence the wine tasting, photography, drawing and dance events. It was a pleasure to meet up with old friends and make new ones and, as always, fascinating to hear your Huguenot stories.

^{Images courtesy of Jeremy Freedman Photography}

The response to Skills Day was magical, with children and adults having a go at paper making, plant dyes, map-making and in experiments with the Science Museum. The Huguenots’ skill in banking was highlighted by Tim Kidd; there was Huguenot dress-up with Hannah Birkett from the Huguenot Museum and learning French phrases with Monsieur Paul Baker; the London Guild of Spinners, Dyers and Weavers encouraged embryonic weavers to participate. Diane Watts, Fellow of the Huguenot Society, stepped in to research 50 Huguenot Heroes. Diane’s diligent and much valued efforts will be included in our educational programme.

Some comments: “The embroidery workshop was inspiring;” “Everyone was enthusiastic, charming and fun to talk to;” “The organ recital at Christ Church was glorious;” “Loved the talks by The Gentle Author and Dan Cruickshank;” “The walks were so interesting;” “Seeing a dining seat being expertly woven from natural river reeds was really enjoyable;” “It was special to meet all the Huguenot volunteers – your passion was infectious!”

Festival photographs can be seen in our Festival Scrapbook. If you have any photographs you would like to share with us, please email them to info@huguenotsofspitalfields.org

Huguenot Month was supported by the City of London Corporation, the Huguenot Society, the Worshipful Company of Needlemakers, the Spitalfields Society, Spitalfields Community Group and St John’s Bread and Wine.

Dates for your diary

6th Annual Huguenot Lecture at the V&A Museum – ‘Miniature Portrait Masterpieces of the Baroque: Huguenot Sculptures in Ivory’ on 5th December 13.00 – 13.45pm in the Hochenhauser Auditorium. Free.  Join curator Dr Holly Trusted to see finely-worked ivory portraits depicting aristocratic or noble subjects by Jean Cavalier, Jean Mancel and David Le Marchand. More information on the V&A website

The French Wars of Religion, 1562-98: Huguenots, Holy Leagues and Dynasties on 5th December at the Performing Arts Centre, Taunton, at 7.30pm, £2. A talk by Dr Jameson Tucker from the University of Plymouth (Dr Tucker was one of our outstanding speakers in Huguenot Summer) https://www.history.org.uk/events/calendar/5581/the-french-wars-of-religion-1562-98-huguenots

Christ Church Spitalfields (where many Huguenots were baptised, married and buried) is holding Christmas services in December: Christmas at the Five at 5pm on the 9^th; Live Nativity Service at 10.30am on the 16^th; Carols by Candlelight at 5pm on the 16^th; Carols round the Tree at 5pm on the 24^th; Christmas Day Celebration at 10.30am on the 25^th.

Eglise Protestante, Soho Square W1D 3QD Services are held in French every Sunday at 11am. The French Protestant congregation moved here in 1893 and additionally built a French school just a few steps away.
http://www.egliseprotestantelondres.org.uk/

Huguenot Museum, Rochester, Children’s Christmas activity: a world of miniatures on December 20th and 21st - drop in, no need to book (£2 per child or free with a Family Day ticket) for this inspiring session www.huguenotmuseum.org/events

Dennis Severs’ House: Christmas Installation Curator David Milne creates a truly magical experience for visitors to enjoy this Spitalfields house in all its festive glory. Ends 4 January 2019 https://www.dennissevershouse.co.uk/christmas/

Deck the Halls at Sutton House, Hackney E9 6JQ For many years the home of Huguenot merchant Ralph Sadleir and one of the few urban National Trust properties. Experience Christmas through the years from the Tudors, to the Georgians and Victorians, with mulled wine and mince pies. Ends 23rd December.
More info on the National Trust website

Museum of London & Museum of London Docklands Home to many Huguenot artefacts including Mrs Fanshawe’s dress. These two museums are celebrating Christmas in a creative way with workshops and cruises inspired by the old Thames Frost Fairs https://www.museumoflondon.org.uk

The House Mill, Bromley by Bow Christmas Fayre – 2nd December. It was a Huguenot, Daniel Bisson, who built this Grade I listed tidal mill in 1776 - the largest tidal mill in the world.  More info on the House Mill website.

Looking ahead to 2019...

May 18th at 11am - Huguenot Footsteps: Greenwich
May 31st - London History Day
June 8th - Spitalfields Gardens opening
July 11th at 11am - Huguenot Footsteps: Clerkenwell
July 11th at 12.30pm - Goldsmiths’ Centre Private Visit
Check our website for future events or email us at info@huguenotsofspitalfields.org

We were asked

Q: Dr Tessa Murdoch mentioned the Threadneedle Street Church at her talk at the Bank of England Museum. Where was it?
A: There is a blue plaque to identify the site beneath the window of the Lobster and Bite restaurant in Threadneedle Street. Please let us know of any other blue plaques commemorating Huguenot personalities.

Q: Where can the wines tasted at the ‘Provence and the Cape: New Wines and Huguenot Influences’ event during Huguenot Month be purchased?
A: Host Cliff Atkins tells us that most of the wines came from two wine merchants: Portal, Dingwall & Norris and Hard to Find Wines.

Q: I couldn’t attend Dr Alistair Duke’s talk ‘There’s scarcely a day that my heart doesn’t weep’ – letters from Flemish and Walloon Women to their families in England. Do you have copies of the letters?
A: Yes, Dr Duke kindly sent us these two letters

Q: Is the Weaver’s House in Coventry linked to the Huguenots?
A: Disappointingly no, but we have been alerted to links between Coventry and the Huguenot ribbon trade by the Coventry Archives. The archivists told us that Thomas Bird Esquire was the most eminent of these ribbon manufacturers, starting his trade in 1701 and employing 2,000 hands. As late as 1861, there were still 2,469 hands employed at looms in Coventry and its surrounding villages and in 1886, one firm still used between 400 and 500 single-hand looms.

Q: Is Picardie Village in Edinburgh anything to do with Huguenot refugees fleeing from northern France?
A: According to The Scotsman, this is fanciful as the village dates back to 1730, 45 years after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. The Huguenots may have been enlisted for their cambric weaving skills but were not necessarily fleeing persecution. Either way, a row of thirteen houses were built for these workers by the City of Edinburgh.
  More info on The Scotsman website.

Q: My ancestors lived in Church Street, now Fournier Street, Spitalfields, and the house numbers have since changed. How can I locate my ancestor’s home?
A: The London Metropolitan Archives is a good source of historical information. They have kindly given us permission to share the house number changes with you.  A larger version of the map is available on our website.

We were told

• Two Huguenot-related books recently launched include:
  The Story of the Huguenots: A unique Legacy by Joyce Hampton. Price £19.99 Available from Amazon
  
• The Dark Side of East London by David Charnick. Price £19.99 Stories of journeymen weavers protesting and rioting. Available from Amazon
• Reputedly ‘The most fashionable museum in New York City’ - The Museum at Fashion Institute of Technology - is home to a red silk damask dress designed by Anna Maria Garthwaite around 1775. More info
• Randolph Vigne was a leading figure in the Huguenot world and his death was an immense loss. The Huguenot Museum is raising money to purchase a Tanqueray sauceboat in his memory. contact director@huguenotmuseum.org for details.
• Dr Edward Vallance at the University of Roehampton spoke about Huguenots in the military during Huguenot Month. Two notable persons were Field Marshal Jean-Louis Ligonier and Henri de Massue, Earl of Galway. Field Marshal Jean-Louis Ligonier first fought in the War of the Spanish Succession and went on to become commander-in-chief and master general of the ordnance during the Seven Years War. Dr Charles Littleton argues that although Ligonier did not have a great epoch-making victory, he was as influential in the shaping of modern British Army as Marlborough or Wellington. Henri de Massue was a Huguenot soldier and diplomat who was influential in the English service in the Nine Years’ War and the War of Spanish Succession. He served under William III as a major-general, and distinguished himself by his personal bravery in action.
• Portrait of a girl in a Spitalfields silk dress: a portrait of Lady Anne Gage, by James Worsdale, wearing a splendid Spitalfields silk dress designed by James Leman can be viewed on the Christie’s website. 
• Mallandain Family: we came across the impressive account of the Mallandain family’s Huguenot heritage. If you know of other similar researched families please contact info@huguenotsofspitalfields.org.

Charity News – Advisory Group

We were heartened by the number of festival-goers who were interested in the work of our charity. One recent development has been to enlist people with expertise in the fields of faith, heritage, refugees, events, and business to guide us in delivering the different strands of our activities.

This year, we took two stands: one to the London Metropolitan Archives on London History Day and another to Huguenot Heritage Day at La Providence in Rochester, where over 400 people attended.

^{Volunteer Jonathan Bouffler}

On this Day

Huguenots of Spitalfields asked Elizabeth Randall, editor of the Huguenot Society Journal, to write an article on the anniversary of Louis XIV signing the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes. This excellent and informative piece appeared on the Spitalfields Life blog on 22^nd October to commemorate this momentous event.

Spitalfields Life has a wealth of Huguenot related articles, which are well worth reading.

Thank You

We warmly appreciate all the support and help that you give to the Huguenots of Spitalfields Charity.

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 led 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/