Cheltenham Masonic Hall
| Cheltenham Masonic Hall | |
|---|---|
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| General information | |
| Town or city | Cheltenham, Gloucestershire |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 51°54′07″N 02°04′24″W / 51.90194°N 2.07333°WCoordinates: 51°54′07″N 02°04′24″W / 51.90194°N 2.07333°W |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | G. Underwood |
The Cheltenham Masonic Hall is believed to be the second oldest purpose-built Masonic Lodge in England. Grand Lodge in London did not build a purpose built lodge room until 1877. It is one of the few Temples in the country which has continuously been used as a Lodge room for considerably over 100 years.
It is also the oldest public building, other than ecclesiastical, in Cheltenham still used for the purpose for which it was designed.
A grade II* listed building, the history of the Cheltenham Masonic Temple began on 5 August 1818, when Brother Baynes proposed "that the propriety of erecting a new Lodge Room should be discussed at the next Lodge." A month later, at a meeting of the Foundation Lodge held at Sheldon’s Hotel (now the site of the Labour Exchange) in York Passage, the Lodge agreed to start making plans for the new building.
The external appearance of the building is an impressive stone structure, with deep recesses in the walls which give a solid appearance. It has a few Masonic ornaments carved in the solid stone and two pillars on the main front. The detail of the capitals is unusual; apparently it was meant for net work, lily work and pomegranates. At the four corners of the building are heavy tower-like projections which appear to contain chambers, possibly secret chambers such as were recommended by early writers on Masonic Temples. The building was designed to stand independently on the site of the garden, but houses have been built up against it on two sides.
The Foundation Lodge, Royal Union Lodge, the Foundation Chapter of Unanimity, Keystone Lodge of Mark Masons, Coteswold Preceptory, the Perseverance Lodge and The Mercurius Lodge have all used this building.
Within a year of the arrival of the Foundation Lodge in Cheltenham, plans were made to build the Masonic Hall, and a newly initiated brother, G. Underwood, was asked to prepare the plans and estimates. Underwood had already made for himself a name as an architect and was at about that time engaged on the new church, Holy Trinity, in the same street. He was also the Surveyor employed by the Post Office for the first map of Cheltenham.
In May 1820, the plans were sent to H.R.H. the Duke of Sussex, The Grand Master.
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Wikipedia