Freemasons' Tavern
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Introduction
The Freemasons' Tavern was established in 1775 at 61-65 Great Queen Street
in the West End of London. It served as a meeting place for a variety of
notable organizations from the eighteenth century until it was demolished
in 1909 to make way for the Connaught Rooms.
History
In 1769, the Premier Grand Lodge of England decided to build a Central Hall.
A building was purchased in Great Queen Street in 1775 and Thomas Sandby was
tasked with building a hall in the garden. The original house became the
tavern with a second house providing office space for the Freemasons. In 1813
the Premier Grand Lodge and rival Ancient Grand Lodge of England merged to form
the United Grand Lodge of England.
The hall was not only used for Masonic purposes, but also became an important venue
in London for a variety of meetings and concerts. Organizations using the hall
included:
- Political Economy Club
- African Institution
- British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society,[1] for the World Anti-Slavery Convention in 1840[2]
- British and Foreign Bible Society[1]
- Highland and Island Emigration Society[3]
- The Football Association (FA) held its first meeting here on 26 October 1863
1909: Connaught Rooms
In 1909 the Grand Lodge demolished most of the Freemasons' Tavern and replaced it
over succeeding decades with a new building designed by H. V. Ashley and Winton Newman,
who also designed the adjoining Freemasons' Hall. The new building, costing £30,000,
was named the Connaught Rooms after the Lodge's Grand Master, Prince Arthur,
Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.
1927 to 1933: Freemasons' Hall
