236 
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF 
that occasioned the Metal to be longer preparing than usual, we know not, 
but be that as it will, the Gentlemen waiting till past Ten a Clock, went all 
or most of them away. About 11 at Night the Metal being ready, was let 
go ... . the burning Metal no sooner sunk down to the Bottom of 
the Mould, but with a Noise and Force equal to that of Gunpowder, it 
came pouring up again, blowing like the Mouth of a Vulcano or a little 
Vesuvius. There was in the place about 20 Men, as well Workmen as 
Spectators, 17 of whom were so burnt that nothing more horrible can be 
thought of, neither can Words describe their Misery. About 9 of the 17 
are already Dead, the other 8 are yet living, but in such a condition that 
the Surgeons say they have very small hopes of above 2 of them/'’ In this 
explosion Mr Hall, clerk of the ordnance, was killed; several other clerks 
were wounded; Lt.-General Borgard, and Mr George Harrison (superin¬ 
tendent of the Foundries), w r ere burnt; the master founder, Bagley, and 
his son, lost their lives, A bronze gun about 11 ft. long, spoiled in the 
cast, is now exhibited in the Botunda at Woolwich, as the very gun which 
caused this disastrous explosion. The Flying Fost of the 12th May 1716, 
says, “ Mis generally agreed that this sad Accident was owing to the 
Dampness of the Mould,” and the Weekly Journal of the same date 
attributes the explosion to “ the Workmen casting some Brass Guns in 
wet Molds.” 
The autobiographical memoir of Lt.-General Albert Borgard, in the 
Boyal Artillery Library at Woolwich, contains the following account of this 
accident. “ 1716. On our arrivall at London I was orderid by the Board 
of Ordnance to lay before them Tables and Draughts of all Natures of Brass 
& Iron Cannon, Mortars, &c., which w T as done accordingly & approved 
of. After the said Draughts 2 Twenty Four Pounder Brass Cannon were 
orderid to be cast by Mr Bagley in his Foundry at Windmill Hill, at the 
Casting of which I was orderid to be present. In the Founding, the 
Mettall of one of the Guns blowed into the Air, burnt many of the 
Spectators of wdiich Seventeen dy*d out of 25 Persons & myself received 
4 wounds.” 
The following extract from the Tower records shows the result of this 
accident:— 
“ Martis 19° die Junij , 1716. It having for many yeares been the Opinion of 
the most experienced Officers that the Government should have a Brass Foundery 
of their own, and whereas Mr Bagley 5 s Foundery is the only own for Casting Brass 
Ordnance & lyable to dangerous Accidents w ch cant be prevented. It is there¬ 
fore orderid that a Proposal and Estimate be made for Building a Boyal Brass 
Foundery at His Majesty’s Tower Place at Woolwich, & the Charge thereof 
Defrayed out of the £5000 given this Year by Parliament for recasting Brass 
Ordn ce & y t no time be lost herein, inasmuch as there are but 2 12-Pounders, and 
not 1 18 or 24-Pounder for Land Service. A Letter to Mr Henry Lidgbird to 
attend the Survey 1 Gen 1 the 20 th - about providing Bricks for the Boyal Brass 
Foundry at Woolwich.” 
So promptly did action follow this decision that, but two months after¬ 
wards, the sum of £300 was paid for bricklayers* work upon the New Brass 
Foundry at YYoolwich, and on the 10th July, 1716, the following advertise¬ 
ment appeared in the London Gazette i —- 
