Hyder Ali, the Sultan of Mysore introduced the first iron-cased metal-cylinder rocket, with 1,200 specialised troops.

A large black dog’s spirit (no, not the liquor!) pervades Leeds Castle. Appearing as an omen of death, it is said to have once saved a woman’s life. Seated in a bay window, on seeing the ghost, she jumped away and immediately the wall and window collapsed into the moat. Whether true or not, YouTube has videos of the ‘ghost’!