Huguenots were early French protestants who were fiercely opposed to and in conflict with the Catholic church and formed themselves into an activist body attacking Catholic chruch buildings and images. The throne had been seen as generally on the side of the Catholic Church but was capable of switching sides when expedient. However the throne was generally less and less trusted by the Huguenot side and eventually they came into open revolt.

In 1598 after the end of what was known as the Fifth Holy War, Henry IV, issued the Edict of Nantes. This Edict granted the Protestants equality with Catholics under the throne and a degree of religious and political freedom within their domains. The Edict simultaneously protected Catholic interests by discouraging the founding of new Protestant churches in the Catholic-controlled regions. However, in 1685 the King revoked the Edict and declared Protestantism illegal with the Edict of Fontainebleau. After this, significant numbers of Huguenots fled to surrounding Protestant countries: England, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark and Prussia — whose Calvinist Great Elector Frederick William welcomed them to help rebuild his war-ravaged and underpopulated country.

Huguenots In England

Most of the Huguenots arriving in Kent and were granted Assylum in Canterbury. From Kent, they moved on to London. A number were also known to have moved down to the West Country, Plymouth in particular.

Principal amongst the skills the Huguenots brought were weavers and silk workers. Many of the Gaylards found on the early census returns were weavers or silk glovers around the Martock area. However probably too much is made of this. The Gaylard name was already prevalent in the area prior to the Huguenot influx and they were present in and around the Martock and Sherborne area from the turn of the fourteenth century.

Here is the proof:

vergers and vicars of curry rivel