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 (Head 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 20 th
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.
ENDS
Media Contact
Jacki Winstanley, Publicity Manager
Tel: 0191 370 4024
Email: jackiwinstanley@beamish.org.uk
Issued
20.04.06
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