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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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