The Masonic hall

FREEMASONS in Bourne have held meetings at their lodge in Wherry’s Lane for over 70 years but the building has been earmarked for redevelopment and they are now seeking a new home.

The hall is part of the freemasonry movement, a fraternal association open to men of any religion and is known for its rituals and signs of recognition that have been copied from antiquity and to the practices of the mediaeval Roman Catholic craft guild of stonemasons. Little is known about the movement leading to the foundation of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717 except that during this period the transformation from craft guild to a secret society for gentlemen took place although the terms of the stonemason’s trade were retained and his tools are included in the rituals still practiced.

Lodges were subsequently formed throughout Britain and the craft, as it became known, also spread to the United States, the colonies and to European countries. There are now 330,000 masons in the United Kingdom and the Grand Lodge runs a benevolent institution and a school for orphans of former masons. Those who join come from all walks of life and have included members of the royal family.

During the middle years of the 19th century, lodges sprang up at Spalding and Grantham and those from Bourne who wished to join had to travel there to attend but eventually decided to form a lodge of their own. Hereward the Wake, having a traditional connection with the town, seemed an appropriate dedication and it came into being on Monday 9th November 1868.

Each lodge was given a number in order of its consecration and an inaugural meeting was held at the Angel Hotel to constitute and consecrate the Hereward Lodge No 1232. A local newspaper reported afterwards: "After the ceremonial was conducted, Mr Henry Bott, mine host at the Angel Hotel, supplied a sumptuous banquet which was partaken by 40 of the brethren."

Meetings were subsequently held in the long room at the Angel Hotel which was rented for six shillings a year. In 1882, it was decided to change the date of meetings to the Friday on or before each full moon and even today, the lodge still meets on the third Friday of every month from September to May inclusive.

An interesting note in the lodge minutes of 1907 says it was agreed to a review of the rental for meetings at the Angel Hotel and to pay £6 per annum, but the increase stipulated that the landlady, Mrs Annie Townson, give an undertaking that “the nuisance of her piano playing during lodge hours be discontinued”.

In 1923, the minutes record the rejection of an offer by the church council for the sale of the Vestry Hall in North Street as a suitable meeting room although from 1925 onwards the premises were used on special occasions for several years, particularly for the annual installation of the Master of the Lodge.

The Angel Hotel remained a convenient and convivial place for meetings over a period of 70 years but there was a hankering among members to have their own premises and in November 1933, a letter was received from the London Central Meat Company offering a golden opportunity. The company wanted to dispose of a plot of land in Wherry’s Lane, off North Street, and it seemed a most appropriate place for a purpose built lodge, covering 330 square yards and with a frontage of 66 feet on the public road. The asking price was £33 with the proviso that a new dividing wall of the same height and thickness as the other boundary wall was constructed or it could form part of the new building to be erected. The purchase was agreed and a building committee set up to oversee the project.

It was estimated that it would cost £1,500 and on 31st August 1938, the new premises were consecrated by the Provincial Grand Master for Lincolnshire, Lord Heneage, when 100 freemasons crowded into the new building to witness the realisation of a long cherished ambition.

The use of the lodge building was largely lost during the Second World War. At an emergency meeting on 11th October 1940, it was announced that the ground floor would be requisitioned by the army to provide accommodation for troops stationed in the Bourne area and it was subsequently used as an officers’ mess until the end of the conflict.

On Saturday 9th November 1968, the lodge celebrated its centenary meeting with a packed attendance in excess of 150. Freemasonry continued to prosper in the town and numbers increased to such an extent that it was decided to open a daughter lodge to be known as the Lodge of Aveland which was consecrated in 1982 as Number 9060 with meetings on Wednesday evenings.

Much of the secrecy that was perceived to surround freemasonry in past years has now gone although lodge meetings remain private occasions open only to members. However, freemasons are now encouraged to speak openly about their membership and a policy of openness is practiced by all lodges, most of them holding periodic open days to enable the public see their premises, inspect the regalia and talk to members about their work. The Hereward Lodge has played its part and over 100 visitors turned up for their last open day in 2004.

Unfortunately, the lodge building in Wherry’s Lane became the target of repeated vandalism and graffiti and the first floor windows facing the lane were bricked up to prevent further expense of replacing broken glass. It was then described as the ugliest building in the town, although this somewhat degrades its very pleasant interior.

The building has now been sold to South Kesteven District Council as part of the £5 million redevelopment scheme planned for Wherry's Lane which will eventually include a series of shops, restaurants and flats, but leased back to the Hereward Lodge for the next twelve months. "Acquisition was inevitable", said lodge secretary, Derek Bontoft, "but this was a more agreeable way of going through the process rather than compulsory purchase. We will now be active in seeking new premises while we lease the building."