Fascinating New Masonic Hall Opened By Hrh Duke Of Kent
Beamish launched its most intriguing and fascinating attraction to date on 19th April 2006, with the opening of the “brand new” Masonic Hall – the first to permanently open to the public in Europe !
HRH The Duke of Kent (Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons in England) opened the Masonic attraction along with hundreds of Freemasons in full regalia. The Freemasons processed and gathered along The Town Street at Beamish. This was the largest public gathering of Freemasons in full regalia in recent memory !
The intriguing Masonic Hall is a truly authentic recreation of an early 20th century Masonic Hall – with a ‘real' fine frontage that has come from a former Masonic Hall in Park Terrace, Sunderland, taken down and rebuilt at Beamish. A simply stunning Masonic Hall has been built behind the frontage with a breath-taking interior complete with period décor and rare Masonic furnishings, paintings and artefacts, providing a unique insight into the world of the Freemasons in 1913.
Co-funded and developed in conjunction with the Freemasons, the new attraction has been created with complete authenticity to replicate a true Masonic Hall of the early 20th century - dressed as it would have been for a Masonic meeting of the period.
The spectacular interior has a striking marble black and white chequer floor, fantastic gothic fireplace, grand impressive mid 18 th century chairs, symbolic boards and original Masonic paintings. In addition the ceiling is painted with stars as they would have appeared on 24th June in 1717 when the Grand Lodge was founded. The building also houses other traditional Masonic rooms, including a Robing Room, Tyler's Room and Museum Room upstairs.
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Media Contact: Jacki Winstanley, Publicity Manager Tel: 0191 370 4024 Email: jackiwinstanley@beamish.org.uk
Issued 20.04.06