How did French Protestant refugees influence England’s silk industry after 1685?

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Diagram titled Spinning jenny showing an operator using a hand wheel to rotate a cord-driven roller, drawing and twisting fibers from multiple clamped rovings onto tilted spindles; numbered callouts trace the process from roving to thread. — textile An annotated diagram showing how an operator uses a hand wheel, rollers, and spindles on a spinning jenny to draw and twist unspun fiber into thread.

Following the 1685 revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which renewed the persecution of French Protestants, a significant influx of skilled weavers sought refuge in England. These refugees settled in areas such as Norwich, Braintree, and London, bringing their expertise to the English silk industry.1

The most notable group, consisting of approximately 3,500 weavers, established themselves in Spitalfields, London. This settlement became the primary center for the production of high-quality fine silk damasks and brocades. These artisans significantly influenced the industry through their sophisticated use of fancy weaves and textures, elevating the quality of silk fabrics produced in England.1