Upcoming Meetings

A group of 17 men decided to form a Lodge in Wokingham, meeting on 18^th May 1892 at The Falcon, 2 St John’s Hill, Clapham Junction, under the Chairmanship of Alexander Charles Ansel Higerty, who was to become the third Master of the Lodge. Why Clapham Junction, you may well ask, as indeed I did. The history from the Jubilee Installation Meeting in 1942 mentions only “Meeting at “The Falcon”, Clapham Junction, London to “Consider forming a New Lodge at Wokingham in the Province of Berkshire”.” Incidentally, The Falcon is still there, described as iconic and one of the top 10 Historical Pubs in London.

This meeting was followed by a further meeting of Founders at St Mark’s School Rooms, Clapham Junction on 21^st June 1892. The Petition for a Warrant was signed at Wokingham Town Hall on 9^th July 1892, submitted on 25^th July 1892, and granted on 11^th August 1892, less than 3 months from inception.

The Lodge was sponsored by Grey Friars Lodge No. 1101, and was consecrated in The Town Hall, Wokingham on 17^th September 1892 by the Deputy PGM (In Charge), W Bro John Thornhill Morland MA, and RW Bro Col Lord Arthur William Hill MP, PC, DL, JP, PGM of Down, was installed as the Primus Master. He was the youngest son of the 4^th Marquis of Downshire, the first PGM of the combined Province of Berkshire & Buckinghamshire, which existed for a relatively short time from 1848 to 1889, before being split back into the 2 separate Provinces, and he was the younger brother of the 5^th Marquis.

The family owned a vast amount of land in Ireland, with their family seat at Hillsborough Castle in County Down and large estates in England, including Easthampstead Park, set between Crowthorne & Wokingham, now a hotel, and marked by the existence of Downshire Golf Club in the old grounds.

RW Bro Lord Arthur Hill took the chair of the Lodge again in 1905, and that was probably the last involvement of the Lodge with its noble connections, and it has since reverted to being a normal Berkshire Lodge, but which is still going strong after over 120 more years.

When I say a normal Lodge, it still has much to commend it and show that it is outstanding in its own way. Over the 125 years to 2017, the Lodge has had 546 members (342 initiates and 204 joining members, joining from lodges across the globe, inc. Scotland, Ireland, France, Gibraltar, Malta, South Africa, Zambia, India, Singapore & Canada), and we now have a small but growing group of Greek members.

We have also attracted many local politicians, including one MP, 12 Mayors of Wokingham, who between them served for 26 years, and more recently 4 mayors of Bracknell Forest, plus countless Town Mayors, Borough, Town & Parish Councillors, but the days of political involvement have subsided.

Our daughter Lodges are Heather Lodge No. 3131 (1905), Acorn Lodge No. 5985 (1944), Engineers Lodge No. 8226 (1968), & Wokingham Lodge No. 8691 (1976). Our grand-daughter Lodges are Sindlesham Lodge No. 8293 (1969) & Lodge of Peace & Friendship No. 9275 (1988), and our great grand-daughter Lodge is Erlegh Lodge No. 9110 (1984).

Our current membership ranges in age from 33 to 94, and represents a wide range of professions, trades & occupations. We meet 4 times a year, on the 3^rd Mondays of February, April, October (Installation) and November, opening at 6:00pm (5:30 in October) at the Wokingham Masonic Centre in Reading Road.

Every Lodge goes through up and downs over the year and Downshire is no exception and is currently on an upward trajectory. We are looking for Initiates and Joining members to grow the Lodge and now is an exciting time for this old lodge and a great time to join to be part of the success and the fun. Come and see us and get a feel for the welcome you will receive Further information can be obtained from our Secretary: W Bro Bruce McKenzie-Boyle, email: bruce@tarn-house.com

Meeting on 3rd Mondaye in October (Installation), November, February and April