 The Huguenots, French Protestants facing a new wave of persecution, began arriving in England in numbers around 1670.King Charles II offered them sanctuary, and in all some 40–50,000 arrived, which was a sizeable number in that era.Many settled in the Spitalfields area of London, and, being former silk-weavers, brought new energy to this industry in the area and raised silk to an important fashion item in Britain.