However this may be, he got on board an English ship, and returned to England in safety.
He brought two Italian workmen with him, accustomed to the secrets of the silk trade.

He arrived in London in 1716, when, after conferring with his brother, a specification was prepared and a patent for the organzining of raw silk was taken out in 1718.

The patent was granted for fourteen years.
In the meantime, John Lombe arranged with the Corporation of the town of Derby for taking a lease of the island or swamp on the river Derwent, at a ground rental of 8L.

a year.

The island, which was well situated for water-power, was 500 feet long and 52 feet wide.
Arrangements were at once made for erecting a silk mill thereon, the first large factory in England.