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Thames Ditton Bronze Foundry

The Thames Ditton Bronze Foundry existed on Summer Road for almost a century. During its heyday it produced numerous major statues and monuments as one of the world's leading firms of bronze founders. Set up in 1874, the foundry seems to have been built on the site of an historic 'melting house' on the banks of the River Thames. It existed under several owners until its demolition in 1976, although statue production ceased in 1939. A blue plaque today marks its location.

A series of important commissions were undertaken and included Oliver Cromwell (1899, outside the House of Commons), Dr. Livingstone (1879, Glasgow) and Captain Cook (1878, Sydney, Australia). Possibly its greatest monument was the giant ‘Peace Quadriga’ statue atop the arch at Hyde Park Corner (1912), which was a memorial to King Edward VII. At 9.75 metres high and weighing 38.6 tonnes, it was the largest sculpture cast in the country.

During the First World War the Foundry adapted to the manufacture of aero engines and brass shell cases, but after the War the Foundry responded to a huge demand for memorials to commemorate the dead. It went on to produce some of its most accomplished and moving work. Among the most renowned are Charles Sargeant Jagger's Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner, London (1925) and William Goscombe John's memorial in Port Sunlight, Merseyside (1921). Arthur Burton, the owner at the time, also donated the materials and his craftsmen's time and skill to produce the bronze plaque installed at St Nicholas' Church, Thames Ditton.

At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 the foundry was was sold by Burton's brother-in-law, who did not want to see it used for munitions manufacturing. It was subsequently used by London Metal Warehouses for making industrial castings, and then by Metal Centres Ltd, as a metal warehouse, until around 1972 when it was sold to the District Council.

Browse a selection of objects in our collection relating to the Bronze Foundry below.

Image of Foundry interior

Type: photograph

89.1976/2

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Image of King George V and Queen Mary at Foundry

Type: photograph

89.1976/3

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Image of Mr E J Packham in Foundry

Type: photograph

89.1976/4

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Image of Foundry sand mould

Type: photograph

89.1976/5

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Image of Foundry gantry crane

Type: photograph

89.1976/6

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Image of Foundry directors and staff with Edward VII statue

Type: photograph

267.1977/8

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Image of bronze soldier figures on truck

Type: photograph

267.1977/9

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Image of Foundry interior

Type: print

267.1977/10

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Image of cast for male torso

Type: photograph

267.1977/11

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Image of staff by Foundry's war memorial

Type: photograph

267.1977/13

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Image of General Maude statue en-route to Baghdad

Type: photograph

267.1977/14

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Indenture for apprenticeship for FW Braddock

Type: document

267.1977/15

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Exhibition of Castings and Models catalogue

Type: document

267.1977/17

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Founders' Competitive Exhibition award certificate

Type: document

267.1977/19

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Cherub castings

Type: cast cherub

267.1977/25

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Modelling knife

Type: modelling knife

267.1977/22a

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Image of Mr E J Packham and Adam and Eve bronze

Type: photograph

229.1983/1

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Mould and model part

Type: mould

1.1991/8

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Examples Of Modern Alphabets, Plain And Ornamental

Type: book

1.1991/18

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Image of The Call 1914, Scottish American War Memorial

Type: postcard

1.1991/27a

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Image of The Call 1914, Scottish American War Memorial

Type: postcard

1.1991/27b

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Image of statue of Marquis of Salisbury, Hatfield

Type: postcard

1.1991/29a

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Image of tomb of Frederick Temple

Type: postcard

1.1991/34a

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Image of Queen Victoria statue, Blackfriars

Type: photograph

11.1993/1

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Image of General Gordon statue, Embankment Gardens

Type: photograph

11.1993/2

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Image of Foundry gantry crane

Type: photograph

66.1993

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Image of World War 1 memorial, Port Sunlight

Type: photograph

45.1996/1

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Image of Australian Bushman statue

Type: photograph

45.1996/2

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Image of statue of General Buller on horseback

Type: photograph

45.1996/3

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Image of statue of General Maude on horseback

Type: photograph

45.1996/4

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Image of Foundry staff and interior with General Buller statue

Type: photograph

45.1996/5

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Image of General Sir Henry Redvers Buller statue in transit

Type: photograph

45.1996/6

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Image of Foundry staff on annual visit to Brighton

Type: photograph

45.1996/7

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Image of London Metal Warehouses Ltd lorry

Type: photograph

131.1998/20

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Image of Alfred Adley Senior with others

Type: photograph

198.1998/2

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Image of Foundry casting turnover

Type: photograph

198.1998/24

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Image of Foundry casting turnover

Type: photograph

198.1998/25

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Image of Foundry casting engraving

Type: photograph

198.1998/26

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Image of Foundry casting engraving

Type: photograph

198.1998/27

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Image of Foundry casting engraving

Type: photograph

198.1998/28

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Image of Foundry casting engraving

Type: photograph

198.1998/29

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Image of Foundry casting engraving

Type: photograph

198.1998/30

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Image of Foundry casting with engraving complete

Type: photograph

198.1998/31

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Image of Foundry casting in mould

Type: photograph

198.1998/32

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Image of Foundry casting in mould

Type: photograph

198.1998/33

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Image of Foundry casting out of mould

Type: photograph

198.1998/34

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Image of Rolls statue, Monmouth

Type: photograph

198.1998/35

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Image of staff by Foundry's war memorial

Type: photograph

142.1999/2

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Image of Robert Burns statue

Type: photograph

142.1999/3

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