Freemasonry in Suffolk explained

Freemasonry in Suffolk dates back to 1772 when the Suffolk "Province" was founded.[1] In 2008 the then Provincial Grand Master of Suffolk, Barry ross, claimed they had 3,000 members organised in 66 lodges. They operate out of 21 centres. As of 2024 there are now 69 lodges in Suffolk. [1] The Freemasons' Hall was built in Soane Street, Ipswich in 1897. It is a grade II listed building run by the Ipswich Masonic Hall Trust.[1]

In accordance with the Suffolk Code, councillors in Suffolk are asked to declare whether they are a Freemason.[2]

History

Ipswich Royal Ark Masons

There are claims that Royal Ark Masons started in Ipswich in 1772, but the documentary evidence only goes back as far as 1789, when Ebenezer "Noah" Sibley and a Mr Wood arrived in Ipswich. The group is sometimes described as "irregular" or "quasi-masonic", as it was formed in order to have a political impact.[3]

United Grand Lodge of England

In 1886 Robert Adair, 1st Baron Waveney was the United Grand Lodge of England Provincial Grand Master of Suffolk until his death on 15 February. There were over 800 freemasons in Suffolk distributed in 22 craft lodges:[4]

Lodge No. Lodge nameLocationMembershipNotes
71UnityLowestoft72
81DoricWoodbridge50
114British UnionIpswich47
225St. LukeIpswich93Some material archived at the Suffolk Record Office, Ipswich[5]
305ApolloBeccles20
332Virtue and SilenceHadleigh27Founded in 1811 at the Shoulder of Mutton. When the tenant of the pub died the lodge moved to the White Lion around 1824/5.[6]
376Perfect FriendshipIpswich68
388PrudenceHalesworth34
516PhoenixStowmarket41
555FidelityFramlingham35
929WaveneyBungay30
936AdairAldeburgh22
959Prince of WalesIpswich
1008Royal St. EdmundBury St. Edmunds49
1224Stour ValleySudbury61
1452St. MargaretLowestoft25
1592AbbeyBury St. Edmunds31
1631St. AndrewGorleston30
1663HertismereEye23
1823Royal ClarenceClare
1983MartynSouthwold25
9194Court KnollBoxford39
  • = No returns

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Masonic buildings in Suffolk

LocationBuilding nameNotesImage
Chequer Square, Bury St EdmundsMasonic HallSix masonic lodges meet at this hall situated in Chequer Square, at the junction of Churchgate Street and Angel Hill.This is a Grade II listed building, formerly the Six Bells Inn.[7]
Soane Street, IpswichIpswich Masonic HallLocated at far end of photograph. This is a Grade II listed building.[8]
North Street, SudburyMasonic Hall

Notes and References

  1. News: Marston . James . Inside the Masons - dispelling the myths . Ipswich Star . 27 August 2008 . Ipswich Star . 2008 . en.
  2. News: Bristow . Tom . Should councillors have to tell us if they are Masons? . 17 November 2017 . Eastern Daily Press . 2017 . en.
  3. Book: Sommers . Susan Mitchell . Parliamentary Politics of a County and Its Town: General Elections in Suffolk and Ipswich in the Eighteenth Century . 2002 . Greenwood Publishing Group . Westport, CT . 9780275975135 . en.
  4. Freemasonry in Suffolk . The Freemason's Chronicle . 1886 . XXIII . 57, Saturday 10 April 1886 . 225–226 .
  5. Web site: Archives . The National . Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of England: St Luke's Lodge 225, Ipswich . discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk . The National Archive . 3 August 2019.
  6. Web site: Turner . Steve . 124 AND 126, HIGH STREET, Hadleigh - 1194322 . historicengland.org.uk . Historic England . 11 March 2022 . en.
  7. Web site: Masonic Hall, Bury St Edmunds . britishlistedbuildings.co.uk . BritishListedBuildings.co.uk . 3 August 2019.
  8. Web site: Freemasons Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk . britishlistedbuildings.co.uk . BritishListedBuildings.co.uk . 3 August 2019.

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