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Did you know that the first water-powered factory in England was opened in Derby in 1722? It was a silk-mill built to a design that John Lombe provided, having used industrial espionage to obtain it from Italy. He died mysteriously that same year, local legend saying he was poisoned by a female spy sent from Piedmont.

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Famous Derby people:

Constance Spry
Eric James
Geoff Hoon
George Simpson
Herbert Spencer
John Hobson
John Wood
Richard Roberts
William Abney

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Brit Quote:
I never saw a wild thing sorry for itself. A small bird will drop frozen dead from a bough without ever having felt sorry for itself. - D H Lawrence
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On this day:
Battle of Berwick - 1296, Fire Claims 19 Glasgow Firefighters - 1960
More dates from British history

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