Northampton Furnace-Lutherville, MD
Posted by: 
Don.Morfe
N 39° 26.486 W 076° 35.810
18S E 362587 N 4366981
Northampton Furnace was built in 1759 by Charles Ridgely. It furnished cannon and shot for the Revolution. The furnace stack is now submerged near here in Loch Raven Reservoir.
Waymark Code: WM17AWP
Location: Maryland, United States
Date Posted: 01/15/2023
Views: 5
TEXT ON THE HISTORICAL MARKER
Northampton Furnace-Built in 1759 by Charles Ridgely (the Elder) of Hampton and two sons, the iron foundry operated for 70 years on Spring Branch of Patterson’s Run. It furnished cannon and shot for the Revolution as well as other supplies: “300 kettles” were ordered by the Council of Safety July 15, 1775. “Premature discharge” of cannon tested in 1780 killed Captain John Fulford and “dreadfully wounded” others. The furnace stack is now submerged near here in Loch Raven.
FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WEBSITE:
Ironmaking
Maryland colonists, including Colonel Charles Ridgely, established many highly productive ironworks. Colonel Ridgely’s purchase of the tract of land called “Northampton” in 1745 was the first of many land purchases for his business and his family. By 1762, due to the clearing and building efforts of teams of indentured servants, enslaved laborers and paid workers, the Colonel had developed Northampton as an ironworks that made and sold pig iron and iron products. In 1763, the Colonel’s younger son, Captain Charles, retired from the sea to operate a general merchandise and importing business in Baltimore Town and focus on his duties with the Northampton Company. After Colonel Ridgely’s death in 1772, Captain Ridgely owned a two-thirds controlling interest in the iron company, which he managed along with his brother-in-law, Darby Lux.
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