Did you know there were plumbago mines in the Lake district? I didn't. Apparently it was used in the casting of cannon balls, to make them smooth and fly true. After cannon fire went out of fashion, a new use had to be found. Pencils, (Kendal museum of...).
Ah, graphite!
And here was me thinking plumbago was a fragrant, exotic plant!
(Or perhaps a milky pudding....)
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