Almost 100 Years of History
Lodge History
On 3rd November 1925, a meeting was held which was unanimous in forming a Church Stretton Lodge. The meeting place was to be the Longmynd Hotel and after conferring with the Province of Shropshire and Lodge of the Marches, Ludlow, which was to become the Lodge’s ‘Mother’ Lodge, the approved Petition was forwarded to the Provincial Grand Master for approval.
Worshipful Brothers (W. Bro.) John Palmer, Erskine Edwards and A. Grafton-Sprague were appointed as the first Worshipful Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden.
The Consecration of the The Longmynd Lodge was held on 29 December 1926 at the Longmynd Hotel by W. Bro. A. Burnett-Brown Provincial Grand Deacon. Others who attended included Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Right Honourable The Lord Harlech and W.A. Graham Deputy Provincial Grand Master. A total of 64 Freemasons were present and the Alms raised totalled £6:4s:6d.
Worshipful Brother John Palmer is pictured here, the first Worshipful Master of The Longmynd Lodge. The collar of his office is still worn by the Worshipful Master today.
Pictured here is a Founders Jewel which was presented to each of the Founders of the Lodge who were present at the Consecration.
Over the years, meetings were held in different locations as new premises were sought first due to works at the Longmynd Hotel and then to fulfil the desire for the Lodge to have its own building. A building plot was bought in Lutwyche Road and then Essex House was bought with the intention of transforming it into a meeting place but this was not completed and instead it was let to the Army during the Second World War. During the War the Lodge met in the Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury.
In 1946, a new Lodge was proposed for Church Stretton, Caer Caradoc Lodge, which was to become the Lodge’s ‘Daughter’ Lodge.
The Denehurst Hotel was then used for meetings after the war until the current premises was bought at 65 High Street where the Lodge remains today.