Immigrants and the Industries of London, 1500-1700

Abstract

Current concern for the scale for immigration into the UK has stimulated ever more research since the 1980s. William Cunningham's book on the subject in 1897 led the way. Now, over a century later, the bibliography of secondary sources in this present book runs to nearly thirty pages, and includes at least ten theses that are directly relevant but are as yet unpublished. So Dr Luu's work constitutes another landmark, in particular lighting up the present state of research by focusing on London, and signalling the dramatic change that has taken place in the resources available for research. Her book makes use of a database compiled on a computer, so it is a markedly orderly analysis, ranges over an extensive bibliography, and enables her to offer many helpful, basic lists and tables that will assist future researchers. The result is a stimulating discussion, asking and responding to many searching questions. It is not only concerned with gauging government policy and public opinion, but explores thoroughly practical questions about the way individuals acted and reacted to migration and migrants. Some of the story is so thoroughly familiar in our present-day experience, indeed, that readers will gasp at some passages; we are going over the same ground all over again. Here lie valuable lessons from the past for today. The book is concerned with London only, and focuses particularly on three trades, silk-weaving, silver-working, and beer-brewing. Having given in the first two chapters a general survey of the existing historiography, and summarised England's economic place in Europe, the author succinctly describes the emergence of a national policy to encourage immigration and the importing of new skills, and the varying results countrywide. She then, from Chapter 4 onwards, focuses on the London scene, telling a satisfying story of the changing strategies chosen by government, the City authorities and gilds through the decades, and responses by the foreigners themselves. Each industry directs attention to different facets of the migrant problem. Silk relied on imports of the raw material, and success resulted mainly from weaving skills, and the choice of highly varied types of silk cloth of medium quality, certainly not the high-value velvets, brocades and tissues made elsewhere in Europe. The beer industry flourished because ‘Dutch’ (often meaning German) brewers were from the start acknowledged to have the supreme skills. Hopped beer was dubbed poisonous at first, but then became acceptable, and then popular. Money inflation encouraged beer drinking (beer costing, at first, half the price of ale), male brewers took charge, and the ale wives were sidelined (this should focus our attention on the women's need to find other work). Capital expenditure on much new brewing equipment enlarged enterprises; so some foreigners found it advantageous to marry the widows of English brewers; by 1650 brewing was assimilated into English hands. In passing, we should note that people became accustomed to beer as a cold drink only, and had to learn to stomach a different taste when the furnaces were fired by coal instead of wood. Here Luu is noticeably alert to the multifarious facets of change. Silver-working lights up yet other changing circumstances: the skill was desirable because of the enhanced ceremonial role of exchanging gifts. Continental traditions for training gave foreigners the edge by insisting on their completing a ‘masterpiece’ and by encouraging apprentices to undertake Wanderjahre, working for some years under different masters. Fashions in design also placed the Huguenot French in the forefront of the business at the end of the seventeenth century. This book is so wide-ranging; it instils a host of ideas for further exploration, not the least of which is the list on page 315 of 24 further new trades and 31 luxury trades introduced by the aliens. Each assuredly will offer further insights into the busy world of consumerism at this period. Dr Luu's book is an alluring signpost inviting followers.