May was the month Freemasons’ Hall, London was dedicated in 1776

News stories bringing the history of Essex Freemasons alive to a modern audience

Freemasons’ Hall in Great Queen Street was dedicated by 9th Lord Petre of Ingatestone Hall, Essex, a leading Roman Catholic who was the 34th Grand Master of the Premier Grand Lodge of England.  The ceremony on 23rd May 1776 was the first official function attended by Thomas Dunckerley as the primus Provincial Grand Master of Essex.

From four in 1717, the number of lodges had grown to around 400. William Preston in the ‘History of Masonry’ section of his ‘Illustrations of Masonry’ book published in 1775, wrote about the 33rd Grand Master from 1767 to 1762:

“The Duke of Beaufort governed the Society with honour and reputation [for] five years. A scheme being proposed in 1768 to incorporate the society and to purchase, and to raise a fund to build a hall and purchase furniture etc., for the Grand Lodge, his Grace generously contributed to the design, and though opposed by a few brethren, who misconceived his good intentions, strenuously persevered in promoting every measure that might facilitate its execution.”    

The members raised sufficient funds to acquire 61-65 Great Queen Street. The hall built at the rear was believed to be the first purpose-built masonic hall in England. The front was leased out to an entrepreneurial proprietor who established the Freemasons’ Tavern. With the passage of time, these and adjoining properties purchased were redeveloped.

The 43rd Grand Master, Field Marshall HRH The Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, had the present-day majestic art deco building designed to commemorate all Freemasons killed in the First World War. This was completed in 1933. The adjoining Freemasons’ Tavern, for which the lease had long since been repurchased, was demolished in 1909 and rebuilt as the ‘Connaught Rooms’ in honour of HRH.

Did you know?

1. The first purpose-built masonic hall in Essex was at Kelvedon. Dedicated by the 5th Earl of Warwick, our 8th Provincial Grand Master, in April 1895 at an especial Provincial Grand Lodge meeting. This was paid for by Sir William Abdy who was passed and raised in Easterford Lodge in 1891 at the Angel Inn, where he felt the facilities weren’t suitable for a Temple.
2. The first ever Provincial Grand Lodge meeting outside Essex was in 1918. Presided over by Lt Col Mark Lockwood, 1st Baron Lambourne of Lambourne, Essex, our 9th Provincial Grand Master, who had been raised to the peerage in the 1917 King’s Birthday Honours. Wartime restrictions made finding a suitable venue in the Province too difficult so it was held at Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street.

Listen to A History of Brotherhood and Legacy, 22 mins.       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKFOfuGkJ7s

Foundation Stone, The Official Essex Masonic Podcast

Pictures:

Top:  Freemasons' Hall located behind the Freemasons’ Tavern, c.1809 by Rowlandson and Pugin.

Middle: 9th Lord Petre, Grand Master with his son Robert, c.1775 by George Romney, courtesy McMaster Museum of Art.

Bottom (L): Freemasons’ Tavern c.1800 by John Nixon.

Bottom (M): Kelvedon Masonic Hall dedicated in 1895 by Francis Greville, 5th Earl of Warwick, PGM 1882 -1902.

Bottom (R): Lt Col Mark Lockwood, 1st Baron Lambourne of Lambourne, PGM 1902 – 1928.