Freemasons' Hall, London facts for kids
.jpg)
Freemasons' Hall in London is the main building for Freemasonry in England. It is the headquarters of the United Grand Lodge of England. Many Masonic Lodges in London also meet here. The building is on Great Queen Street, between Holborn and Covent Garden. It has been a Masonic meeting place since 1775.
Some parts of the building are open to visitors every day. Its classic Art Deco style is well-preserved. This, along with its use in films and TV shows, makes it a popular place to visit.
Contents
Building History: From Old to New
In 1775, the first Grand Lodge bought two houses. They wanted a large hall to connect them. A design contest was held, and Thomas Sandby won. One house became the Freemasons' Tavern. The other was used for offices and meeting rooms.
The Current Grand Building
The building you see today is the third one on this site. It was built between 1927 and 1933. Architects Henry Victor Ashley and F. Winton Newman designed it. It was created to remember the 3,225 Freemasons who died in World War I.
It is a very impressive Art Deco building. It covers about 2.25 acres (1 hectare). It was first called the Masonic Peace Memorial. The name changed to Freemasons' Hall when World War II started in 1939. Money for the building came from the Masonic Million Memorial Fund. This fund raised over £1 million. The building is a special historic site, known as a Grade II* listed building.
Exploring Inside: Key Areas of Freemasons' Hall
The Grand Temple: A Special Meeting Place
The Grand Temple is the most important room in the building. It is where the Grand Lodge and many London Masonic groups meet. Other Masonic groups also hold their yearly meetings here.
Many non-Masonic groups also use the Grand Temple. They hold different events, from Fashion shows to award ceremonies. The large Bronze doors were designed by Walter Gilbert. Each door weighs over one tonne. The room itself is huge: 123 feet (37 meters) long, 90 feet (27 meters) wide, and 62 feet (19 meters) high. It can seat 1,700 people.
The ceiling has beautiful Mosaic artwork. It shows figures and symbols from Masonic traditions. In the corners, you can see figures representing four important virtues: Prudence, Temperance, Fortitude, and Justice. There are also the Arms of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn. He was the Grand Master from 1901 to 1939. He suggested building the Masonic Peace Memorial.
A large pipe organ was built in 1933 by Henry Willis & Sons. It was restored in 2015 by Harrison and Harrison. The restoration added a new section to the organ. The first concert on the restored organ was held on September 30, 2015.
-
Inside the Grand Temple
-
Doors to the Grand Temple
-
The Grand Temple dais and pipe organ
-
The detailed ceiling
Other Meeting Rooms: Unique Designs
Besides the Grand Temple, there are 26 other Masonic meeting rooms. These are called temples. Each one is decorated in its own unique Art Deco style. No two temples look exactly alike.
Temple No 1 used to be very large, seating up to 600 people. It had portraits of past Grand Masters. Now, it is a conference space, but the portraits remain. Temple No 3 has a special 19th-century organ. Temple No 10 combines Art Deco with Egyptian designs. It has a high domed ceiling.
Temple No 11 was funded by donations from Japan and the Far East. It is decorated with beautiful Chrysanthemum flowers, which are important in Japan. Temple No 12 is called the Burma Temple. It has Burmese artwork and a plaque honoring Freemasons from British Burma.
Temple No 16 has a unique barrel vault ceiling. Temple No 17 was funded by Freemasons from Buckinghamshire. It features a large carved swan, which is a symbol of Buckinghamshire. This temple is used by some of London's oldest Masonic groups.
Temple No 23 was once the smallest, seating about 35 people. It had portraits of past Grand Secretaries. In 2018, it became "The Kent Room." It is now open for public viewing as part of the Library and Museum. Three new smaller temples (Nos 25, 26, and 27) were also created. They can hold about 20 people each.
There are also simpler temples for practice meetings. The Grand Temple and the Kent Room offer public tours daily. The other temples are usually not open to the public. This is because they are always busy with private meetings. About 1,800 Masonic groups meet regularly in London. Many of them meet at Freemasons' Hall.
The Museum of Freemasonry: Discover History
The Museum of Freemasonry is a museum, library, and archive located inside Freemasons' Hall. It focuses on Freemasonry and other similar groups. It is a registered charity.
In 2007, the museum's collection was recognized as very important. It is considered to be of national and international significance. The museum is open to everyone, and entry is free. It has many Masonic artworks, ceremonial objects, and special clothing. It also displays everyday items with Masonic designs, like clocks, furniture, and jewelry.
The Library is open to the public for research. You need to register to use it. The Library has a large collection of books and old papers about Freemasonry in England and around the world. It also has materials on related topics. The Library's list of books is available online. The museum also has items related to Friendly Societies, like the Oddfellows.
The Museum offers help with family history research. However, there is no full public list of all Freemasons. The Museum of Freemasonry also hosts workshops, events, and exhibitions throughout the year. Admission to all exhibitions is free.
Other Useful Areas of the Building
Beyond the temples and museum, the building has many other areas. These include offices, storage for Masonic groups' belongings, and a Masonic shop. There are also board rooms, workshops, and archives. A café-bar is available for visitors. An entire floor is dedicated to charity administration. This is where the Masonic charities manage their work.
The Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London also has its offices here. It has about 40,000 members. This makes it the largest Masonic province.
See also
- Freemasonry
- Mark Masons' Hall, London
- List of Masonic libraries
