Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Changing domestic trade patterns: the changing cloth trade, including ‘new…
Full specification wording
Economy, trade and empire, 1625–88: Changing domestic trade patterns: the changing cloth trade, including ‘new draperies’ and the impact of Protestant refugees; the growth of London and its impact on economic development; the growth of banking and insurance.
Domestic trade shifted as cloth exports moved from heavy broadcloth to lighter, cheaper ‘new draperies’ such as bays and says, often woven in East Anglia and the West Country.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Domestic trade shifted as cloth exports moved from heavy broadcloth to lighter, cheaper ‘new draperies’ such as bays and says, often woven in East Anglia and the West Country. Protestant refugees from the Low Countries and France brought weaving, finishing and dyeing skills, plus continental market contacts, accelerating this change. London grew rapidly to dominate overseas and internal trade, funnelling goods through the Thames, stimulating shipping, warehousing and a consumer market, and drawing labour and demand from the provinces. This concentration encouraged specialist finance: goldsmiths, scriveners and, by the 1680s, embryonic banks offered deposits, loans and bills of exchange, while marine and fire insurance spread risk. Together these changes commercialised the economy, though regional cloth towns could decline when fashions or war disrupted demand.
What earns the marks
- Explains the shift from traditional broadcloth to lighter ‘new draperies’ and links it to changing consumer demand and cheaper production.
- Shows how Protestant refugees (from the Low Countries and France) transferred weaving, finishing and marketing skills into English cloth regions.
- Analyses London’s growth as a port, market and financial centre, and its pull on provincial trade, labour and consumption.
- Explains how banking practices (deposits, loans, bills of exchange) and insurance (marine, fire) grew from commercial need and reduced risk.
- Evaluates consequences: commercialisation, regional specialisation and vulnerability of some cloth towns to war or fashion change.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating ‘new draperies’ as simply more cloth rather than a different, lighter product mix.
Put it right by explaining the change in fabric type, cost and market.
Assuming Protestant refugees only worked in London.
Put it right by placing them in provincial weaving and finishing centres as well as the capital.
Describing banking and insurance as fully modern institutions.
Put it right by presenting them as evolving practices among goldsmiths, scriveners and merchants.
Exam tips
- Use precise examples of cloth types, places and refugee groups to support each causal claim.
- Link each economic change to a consequence for trade patterns, not just a description of the change.
- When discussing London, distinguish its role as market, port and financial centre to show range.
Try the lesson
The start of the Economy, trade and empire, 1625–88: Changing domestic trade patterns: the changing cloth trade, including ‘new draperies’ and the impact of Protestant refugees; the growth of London and its impact on economic development; the growth of banking and insurance. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which type of cloth production expanded most strongly in England during the seventeenth century as part of the 'new draperies'?
Listen
Domestic trade shifted as cloth exports moved from heavy broadcloth to lighter, cheaper ‘new draperies’ such as bays and says, often woven in East Anglia and the West Country. Protestant refugees from the Low Countries and France brought weaving, finishing and dyeing skills, plus continental market contacts, accelerating this change. London grew rapidly to dominate overseas and internal trade, funnelling goods through the Thames, stimulating shipping, warehousing and a consumer market, and drawing labour and demand from the provinces. This concentration encouraged specialist finance: goldsmiths, scriveners and, by the 1680s, embryonic banks offered deposits, loans and bills of exchange, while marine and fire insurance spread risk. Together these changes commercialised the economy, though regional cloth towns could decline when fashions or war disrupted demand. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the shift from traditional broadcloth to lighter ‘new draperies’ and links it to changing consumer demand and cheaper production. Shows how Protestant refugees (from the Low Countries and France) transferred weaving, finishing and marketing skills into English cloth regions. Analyses London’s growth as a port, market and financial centre, and its pull on provincial trade, labour and consumption. Explains how banking practices (deposits, loans, bills of exchange) and insurance (marine, fire) grew from commercial need and reduced risk. A common slip: Treating ‘new draperies’ as simply more cloth rather than a different, lighter product mix. Instead, explaining the change in fabric type, cost and market. Exam tip: Use precise examples of cloth types, places and refugee groups to support each causal claim.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
New draperies
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Protestant refugees
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
London
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Banking and insurance
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- New draperies
- Lighter, cheaper cloth such as bays and says, often woven in East Anglia and the West Country, replacing heavy broadcloth.
- Protestant refugees
- People from the Low Countries and France who brought weaving, finishing and dyeing skills plus continental market contacts.
- London
- A rapidly growing port and market that dominated overseas and internal trade, funnelling goods through the Thames and drawing labour and demand from the provinces.
- Banking and insurance
- Evolving practices among goldsmiths, scriveners and merchants offering deposits, loans and bills of exchange, while marine and fire insurance spread risk.
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