Masonic secrets on show at open day
SECRETS of Hinckley’s Masonic Lodge were offered up at an open day held as part of the borough’s Heritage Open Days weekend.
It was among a list of historic chuches, chapels and other community buildings which welcomed visitors into their normally closed quarters.
The Art Deco hall, on St Mary’s Road, was built between 1927 and 1929 and has been the home of Freemasonry in this area since then.
But Freemasons have been meeting in the town since 1803, a date commemorated with a blue plaque on the front of the hall.
The movement itself is marking its tercentenary this year.
Visitors were shown all around the building, including its iconic first-floor Lodge Room, and invited to view displays and a presentation documenting the history of the hall and Freemasonry in the town.
Some residents may have remembered the venue from attending blood donor sessions, which were held there for many years until building’s renovation in 2011.
Lodge members were on hand to tell visitors about the lodges that meet there and the basics of the society to which they belong.
On the ground floor, which is run as a function suite called the Green Rooms, a large-screen presentation was played and archive material from as far back as 1860, including coverage of Masonic balls, was on display.
On a staircase visitors were invited to view a large restored painting of Earl Howe, Master of the Knights of Malta Lodge in 1858 and 1859, who was said to be renowned for his charitable giving to the citizens of Hinckley in those times.
Among the many visitors were the deputy mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth, Councillor Jan Kirby and her consort, husband Mike Kirby.
Cllr Kirby said: “It was a pleasure to be shown around (the) lovely Masonic rooms and told the history of the Masons within Hinckley.
“Many people do not realise the charitable works that the Masons do for our community.”
She said she hoped the hall would open again for future heritage weekends.
Another visitor, Shirley Ashmore, was especially interested in seeing a large board recording the names of the Past Masters of the Knights of Malta Lodge which forms a focal point in the Lodge Room.
It was presented to the lodge in 1967 by her mother in memory of her father Cecil Hipwell who was the Master of the Lodge in 1948 and whose name is recorded on it.