I was delighted to be invited to speak to an audience of City of London Guides about the influence of the Huguenots in the City of London. Their meeting was held in The Guildhall and It was a privilege to be in that prestigious setting and to speak to such a large group of interested and interesting people.

Although my brief was to speak about Huguenots in the City, I also gave a brief history of why Huguenots left France in such numbers in the late 17th century, touching on their persecution by Louis XIV and his revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which had protected them for so long and allowed them to practise their faith freely. Around 50,000 Huguenots came to England at that time and many more went to Protestant countries in Europe and beyond. Among those who came to England were many professionals and craftsmen whose skills hugely enriched the life of this country and depleted that of their native France.

In the City itself, several men of Huguenot descent were founder directors of The Bank of England, Lord Mayors, a Solicitor General and other prestigious roles and were involved in the foundation of the Stock Exchange, the original calculation of life assurances and many other City businesses. There were highly skilled Huguenot goldsmiths, silversmiths, clockmakers, glassmakers, silk weavers and many other artisans as well as lawyers, doctors, inventors and mathematicians and those involved in the Arts.

The Huguenots lost no time in setting up their own churches in their adopted country. After the Revocation, thirty French churches were founded in London with ten elsewhere in the country. However, due to the quick assimilation of the refugees, many were to close and, at the beginning of the 19th century, only three were left. The only French church still in existence is in Soho Square. There is a carving over the entrance to the church which depicts the flight of Huguenots from France, a stark reminder of their expulsion by a king who was determined to ‘wipe out this false religion’ and make France a wholly Catholic country. Louis XIV’s loss was our gain.

As one of the City Guides remarked: ‘I have a feeling that the work of the Huguenots is hiding in plain sight all over the City.’ A testament to their ability to become an integral part of the country to which they fled.