Soho Foundry facts for kids
The Soho Foundry is a famous factory in Smethwick, England. It was built in 1795 by Matthew Boulton and James Watt, along with their sons. They built it to make steam engines. Today, the factory is owned by Avery Weigh-Tronix. It is now used to make weighing machines.
The Soho Foundry was very important for the Industrial Revolution. It also showed new ways of managing a factory. This factory was special because of how well it was planned. Its production methods and management ideas were very advanced for its time. Many of its ideas became common much later. An economist named Eric Roll even said that later experts like Henry Ford and Frederick Winslow Taylor didn't invent anything that wasn't already at Soho before 1805.
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History of the Soho Foundry
The factory was built next to the Birmingham Canal. The land was bought in 1795. The factory officially opened its doors the very next year.
How the Factory Was Organized
The Soho Foundry was planned in a very clever way. This was new for factories at that time. Its products were made from parts that could be easily swapped. This meant less need to watch over every step of the work. It also made it easier to keep track of parts. Fixing things for customers became simpler too.
The work was broken down into many small jobs. This allowed workers to become very good at one specific task. For example, a document from 1801 said that four workers were always busy "fitting nozzles." These jobs happened in different workshops. The workshops were set up in the order that products were made. This saved time and money by moving materials less.
The way the factory handled its money was also very modern. It had three main parts:
- The Foundry Department made cast iron parts.
- The Smithy Department made wrought iron parts.
- The Fitting Department machined the parts and put them together.
Each of these departments was run like its own business. They each aimed to make a profit.
The Soho Foundry was also ahead of its time in how it treated its workers. They had training programs for managers. They also offered sick pay and other help for their employees.
Soho Foundry Today
Today, the Soho Foundry is home to Avery Weigh-Tronix and Avery Berkel. These companies make weighing scales. The site also includes a small cottage where William Murdoch once lived. It looks out over Black Patch Park.
There used to be a small museum at the factory. It was only open by appointment, but it is now closed.
The Famous Pooley Gates
The factory has special gates called the Pooley gates. They are made of cast iron and are very old. They have a Liver bird, ropes, flags, and other sea-themed decorations. A plaque on the gates says they were made by Henry Pooley and Son around 1840. They were originally made for the Sailors' Home in Liverpool. The Avery and Pooley companies joined together in 1931.
In 2011, the gates were moved back to Liverpool. They were put up in a pedestrian area called Paradise Street. This is close to where the Sailors' Home used to be.
The main building of the Soho Foundry is a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historic building. The gates and the nearby canal bridge are also listed as Grade II historic buildings.
The oldest working steam engine built at Soho Foundry is the Smethwick Engine. It was made to pump water for the nearby canal locks at Smethwick Summit. You can now see it at the Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum.
Images for kids
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An old advertisement from the 'James Watt & Co.' time
See also
In Spanish: Soho Foundry para niños
