« Reply #1 on: Thursday 25 July 13 08:37 BST (UK) »
Hi.
Not sure quite what you're after. And I'm certainly no expert. However, there were early 16th century tapestry weavers
asked to come over - see Sheldon tapestries of Beoley.
Also
asked to come over were weavers for the carpet industry in Kidderminster. 1735-1740 ish. They were soon making "Brussels" weave.
Whether these skilled foreigners were Huguenots, I don't know.
If others came, then I foresee two possible routes. Firstly, moving out of London, possibly to escape the London Guild system. Or secondly, 'escape' from the ports of the Low Countries and arriving via the River Severn. Note, there was lace making in east Gloucestershire, which may have contributed to the attraction of the area. Although the times were pre-industrialisation there was a cottage needle industry around Redditch. And possibly west Oxfordshire?
Hope that gets you started. Remember that the rural Worcestershire accent was quite strong and spelling variable so you will need to be flexible with your surnames.
Have you tried the Huguenot Society?
Cheers
Mike
HANDS, HANDES, HANNS, HANNES, HANNE, HANNON (Yardley to Bromsgrove)
MIL(L)WARD, COTTERIL, CLULEE, IZOD, HASSALL, TODD, STRATTON, JAKEMAN, JENNINGS, MOLE, ALLCOCK PINFIELD north Worcestershire
WATERS, Thurzo, Sutherland> Bishopswearmouth, Durham
GARDNER, Solihull;
HUMPHRIES & HUMPHREYS, Meifod, Montgomeryshire>Bilston, STS> Manchester & Texas + Kansas, USA
JAKENS, BIRD, CRAPPER Bury, HIGGINBOTHAM, HORRIDGE, CUNDIFF, Lancs
LEO, Galway/Tipperary, & CARROLL, Carlow Ireland
