Kent Museum of Freemasonry facts for kids

The Kent Museum of Freemasonry is a special museum located in St Peter's Place, Canterbury, Kent. It holds a unique collection of items related to Freemasonry, which is a social and charitable organization with a long history.

This museum helps visitors understand the story of Freemasonry from its beginnings to today. It focuses especially on the history of Freemasonry in Kent, including its local groups called Lodges. Many people believe it has one of the best collections of Masonic items in the UK, outside of London. This includes beautiful 19th-century stained glass windows that once decorated the old Freemasons’ Hall in London.

The museum is open to everyone and is easy to find in Canterbury. It's just a short walk from Canterbury Cathedral and close to the historic Westgate Towers.

Inside, you'll discover many interesting items. These include old paintings, unique glass and porcelain, important documents, and special gifts. There's also a large collection of masonic manuscripts, special clothing called regalia, and books. These items cover all the different Masonic groups throughout history. The museum offers a full look at the history of Freemasonry, with a special focus on its presence in Kent.

Museum's Story: How it Began

The history of the Kent Museum of Freemasonry goes back to the late 1800s. Freemasonry has been active in Canterbury since 1730. That's when the city's first group, or lodge, started meeting at a place called the Red Lion Tavern.

Over the years, different lodges in Canterbury collected many old and new Masonic items. Once they had their own building, these items were all brought together. As the collection grew, finding enough space became a challenge.

In 1919, a new lodge called the East Kent Masters Lodge No.3931 was formed in Canterbury. Its first leader was Wykeham Stanley Cornwallis, 2nd Baron Cornwallis. He was also a very important leader for all Freemasons in Kent. After seeing the growing collection of items, he had an idea. He wanted to create a special library and museum for all the Masonic treasures in Kent.

At first, places like Maidstone and Bromley were considered. But Lord Cornwallis decided that Canterbury would be the best location.

Soon, a fundraising effort began to "house" these many treasures. Lord Cornwallis wanted them to be kept safely by Freemasons for everyone to see.

In 1920, a committee was set up to raise money. Over the next five years, many gifts were received from lodges and individuals. In 1925, records show that land was bought for the Library & Museum in Canterbury. It cost £1,036 4s 11d.

In 1930, an architect named F.G. Haywood was chosen to design the building. The main builders were W.W. Martin and G.H. Denne & Son. At this time, Lord Cornwallis was also a very senior leader in the United Grand Lodge of England. When the old Grand Library and Museum in Great Queen Street, London, was taken down to build a new temple, he managed to get the beautiful stained glass windows, internal doors, and most of the display cases for the Canterbury museum.

The strong oak entrance doors for the museum were a gift from a Freemason named Jimmy Edwards. These doors came from St Mary’s College in Hales Place, Canterbury, which was also being taken down at the time.

By June 1932, the building was finished. The total cost, including the land, was £3,936 4s 11d.

The Kent Library & Museum of Freemasonry officially opened on April 19, 1933.

Since then, the collection has continued to grow. Today, it has more than 3,000 pieces. These include Masonic paintings, books, special clothing, glassware, and ceramics.

In 1993, the Kent Masonic Library and Museum Trust became a registered charity.

The museum closed for a big update in early 2011. It reopened in September 2012 with a new layout. This new design helps visitors walk through and learn the history of Freemasonry from its start to the present day. It highlights Freemasonry in Kent, its lodges, and where they came from. Displays also feature information on famous Kent Freemasons and Masonic military heroes.

Plan Your Visit

The museum is usually open every day from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It closes only for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

You can find the museum between Canterbury East and West railway stations. There's plenty of public parking nearby, both on the street and in Pound Lane.

The museum is fully accessible for wheelchairs, so everyone can explore it easily.

The best part? Admission is completely free!