Welcome To Derby Ghost
Capital Of England --The Silk Mill
Silk Mill
The
Silk Mill
England's
first factory was built here
in 1717, on the banks of the River
Derwent. John Lombe, who was
possibly the world's first industrial
spy travelled to Livorno in Italy to
steal the patterns for making silk-
throwing machines, spending his
days working the machines and at
night, when he should have been
sleeping, copying down their plans.
These he carefully placed in bales of
silk destined for England. The plans
were then intercepted by his father's
agents and brought to Derby.
The silk-throwing machines
were
constructed in Derby's old Guildhall
and eventually moved to what was the
first purpose-built factory in England.
Lombe escaped back home but three
years later, so the story goes, he was
poisoned by an Italian assassin from
Livorno, sent over to this country to
exact revenge.
The Silk Mill burnt down
in 1910,
and all that was saved was the bell
tower. It is this tower which is known
to be haunted by a little boy who was
kicked down the stairs by one of the
overseers for not working hard
enough.
Children as young as seven
were
employed at the silk mill. They
worked from 5am until 7pm. This
little boy's cries can still be heard at
the foot of the stairs where he bled to
death. On many occasions staff of
what is now Derby's Industrial
Museum have gone into the tower,
thinking that there is a child lost, but
there is never anyone there. The lift
operates by itself, often going up and
down on its own. The Silk Mill staff
check at night before leaving to make
sure that no one is in the lift, as it
operates so often in this manner.
The
Silk Mill
