In 1718, Thomas Lombe secured a fourteen-year patent for silk throwing machinery, an achievement built upon the technical intelligence gathered by his brother, John Lombe. Born in Norwich in 1693 to a family involved in the textile trade, John Lombe transitioned from a localized background into an engineer and entrepreneur operating within the Kingdom of Great Britain.
Technical Investigation in Italy
During the early 18th century, the framework knitting industry in the English Midlands faced a significant shortage of spun silk. To address this, Thomas Lombe dispatched his younger half-brother to Italy to study advanced silk processing technology. While power spinning methods had existed in Italy since the 15th century, specifically through descriptions provided by Vittorio Zonca and sketches attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, the Italian machinery for spinning organzine thread remained highly guarded. John Lombe worked to observe these systems to enable the replication of high-quality warp threads necessary for weaving fine silk cloth.
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Upon returning to England, John Lombe utilized his knowledge to advance silk manufacturing operations. He secured employment at an initial silk mill on the River Derwent, which had been constructed by engineer George Sorocold for Thomas Cotchett. This experience served as a foundation for a more ambitious project. The Lombe brothers commissioned Sorocold to design a larger, more efficient mill on the same site to industrialize the production of silk. This facility, known as Lombe's Mill, represented a major shift in the scale of English textile production.
Death and Legacy
The completion of Lombe's Mill coincided with the year of John Lombe's death in 1722. He died at the age of 29 in Derby. Following his passing, Thomas Lombe continued the operation, establishing himself as a significant silk merchant in London and Norwich. John Lombe remains commemorated in Derby through a bas-relief sculpture located on Exeter Bridge.
Fast facts
- Born: 1693, Norwich
- Died: 20 November 1722, Derby
- Nationality: Kingdom of Great Britain
- Occupations: Engineer, entrepreneur
- Patent year: 1718
- Site of operations: River Derwent, Derby
Questions readers ask
What was the purpose of the machinery John Lombe studied in Italy?
The machinery was designed to spin organzine, which is raw silk warp thread used for weaving fine silk cloth.
Who built the mill at Derby for the Lombe brothers?
The mill was built by the engineer George Sorocold.
