Our History
Early in 1956, a meeting was called at The Crown Public House, Westerham, to consider a proposal to form a Freemason’s Lodge in Westerham under the auspices of the Amhurst lodge No. 1223.
However for reasons now lost in antiquity the Westerham Lodge was ultimately sponsored by the Orpington Lodge No. 5316.
The prime mover for the meeting was a local estate agent, W. Bro. H.E.Morgan. It was unanimously agreed to proceed with the proposition, with W Bro Morgan being the first Master of the Lodge.
However, due to illness that left this worthy brother severely paralysed, it was subsequently decided that W Bro R C Foster should replace W Bro Morgan in the capacity of the first Worshipful Master.
A petition was prepared and submitted to the Province of Kent in the names of twenty-four founding members; with the new Lodge meeting at the Kings Arms Hotel in Westerham also being given the seal of approval by the Provincial Grand Secretary.
The Lodge was consecrated on 19th December 1956 at the Royal Star Hotel in Maidstone by the then PGM RW Bro The Rt Hon The Lord Cornwallis K.B.E, M.C. The banner of the Lodge was dedicated in April 1958.
In May 1956, partly to prepare for the forthcoming consecration, it was agreed by the members that Classes of Instruction would be held every 2 weeks from September to May. These evolved into formal Lodges of Instruction in September 1957.
Timeline
March 1958-First Ladies Night was held at the Grasshopper Inn Westerham.
November 1958 – our set of 72 Firing Glasses were presented to the Lodge by Bro Nash of Bexley Heath No 4918. These are still used at every meeting as part of our traditional toast to guests at the Festive Board.
December 1961-W Bro Stevenson became the Lodges first recipient of Provincial Honours, being made a Provincial Grand Steward.
October 1962-after 6 years at the Kings Arms we moved our meetings and LoI to Institute Hall in Westerham.
February 1968-the Lodge opted to move to the Grasshopper Inn in Moorhouse, meeting in their Tudor Room lending to the atmosphere of the meetings.
April 1973-Province of Kent was split into East & West Kent with Westerham becoming part of the latter.
June 1975-Westerham were asked to sponsor a new Lodge. Having so agreed, Biggin Hill No 8659 became our daughter Lodge in October.
October 1977-we and our daughter lodge, Biggin Hill, moved to the Spinning Wheel in Hawley Corner, Westerham owned by a member of Biggin Hill Lodge.
December 1981- we celebrated our 25th Anniversary which was attended by the RW PGM The Rev Peter Collins and 67 other visitors and guests.
October 1986- we, and Biggin Hill, left the Spinning Wheel for the Sevenoaks Masonic Centre, which had been converted to a Temple from a dis-used Methodist Church by Amhurst and Knole Lodges. Both Lodges became shareholders of the centre with the other Lodges using the “new” temple. Sevenoaks Masonic Centre is still our current home for Lodge and LoI meetings.
October 1989-in honour of our 750th LoI meeting a celebratory dinner and cabaret, open to non-masons was held after the LoI at Sevenoaks Masonic Centre.
April 1991-inaugural Charity lunch held. These became a bi-annual fixture in the lodge calendar raising circa £10,000 over the years.
September 2002 –last Ladies night held at West Malling Golf Club after several successful events over the years at various South Coast resort towns.
December 2006-Westerham celebrated our 50th Anniversary on the 19th– the exact date of our consecration.
December 2013- unfortunately the reduction in numbers in the Lodge meant that the last Charity lunch was held-still with the traditional toy, a wooden train set, made by W Bro Tyler, being the star of the raffle.
September 2021-Westerham arranges the simultaneous Initiation of 5 candidates at Bromley Masonic Centre with the ceremony carried out by West Kent PGM assisted by his Executive officers.
Past Installations
Below is a gallery of our past installations.
