The Foundery facts for kids
The Foundery, also called the Foundry, was a very important building in Moorfields, London. It was the first place in London where brass cannons were made for the British military. Later, this building became the first church for the Wesleyan Methodist community in London. It was a key meeting spot for early Methodists. In 1778, the Methodists moved to a new church nearby, called Wesley's Chapel, which was built just for them on City Road.
Contents
The Foundery's Story
From Cannons to Community
Making Military Cannons
A man named Matthew Bagley had The Foundery built around 1684. It was located in Windmill Hill, which is now Tabernacle Street, in Moorfields, north of the City of London. People sometimes called it the King's Foundery or Bagley's Foundry.
Matthew Bagley came from a family of skilled metal workers who made things from metal in Chacombe, Northamptonshire. By 1693, he also ran a bell-making business in Clerkenwell, London. He is sometimes called "Matthew II Bagley" to tell him apart from other bell-makers with the same name in his family.
The Foundery made cannons for the nearby Honourable Artillery Company. It closed in 1716 after a big explosion. This explosion was caused by steam from dampness in a mold. Matthew Bagley and 16 other people died in the accident. After this, a new cannon factory was opened around 1717 at the military's site in Woolwich, southeast of London.
A New Home for Methodists
After the cannon factory closed, the building was used for a new purpose. From 1739, it became the first Methodist chapel in London. John Wesley, a very important leader of the Methodist movement, bought the building's lease for £115. He then spent another £700 to £800 to fix it up.
He turned it into a chapel that could hold 1,500 people. There was also a smaller room for meetings. John Wesley gave his first sermon in the building on November 11, 1739. Another important Methodist leader, Thomas Maxfield, was there in 1742. This first Methodist chapel also hosted the very first Methodist conference in June 1744.
Helping the Community
The Foundery complex was more than just a church. It also offered many services to help the community. In 1746, a free dispensary opened there. This was a place where people could get free medicine. The Methodists hired a person to prepare medicines and a surgeon.
The next year, in 1747, a free school opened. Two teachers taught 60 children there. In 1747, the complex also started a lending society. This helped people borrow money. In 1748, an almshouse was added next to the chapel. This provided housing for poor people.
The Methodist community moved to the new Wesley's Chapel in 1778. This new chapel was built nearby especially for them.
