31/08/2024
80 YEARS ON SAUL STREET
On this day in 1944, the Inaugural Meeting was held at the first and only Masonic Hall in Preston. After meeting at the Bull & Royal for some 80 years, the Freemasons of Preston had their own home. The move was provoked after the Bull & Royal decided to serve food that was meant for Masons, during war time rationing, to the general public in the restaurant.
Mayor of Preston and Master of Preston Guild Lodge, Sid Howarth, led the campaign to find a new home. It was recognised that during the war, and for some time after it, a new build option would not ne approved. The solution was to repurpose the now unused Saul Street Primitive Methodist Church along with the school and two cottage.
The chapel made a wonderful conversion into a Masonic Lodge Room. The masons brought magnificent furniture with them when they left the Bull & Roya, much of which is still in use today and is around 200 years old. In addition, they bought brand new theatre chairs from Gaumont Kalee, who made such chairs for theatres and cinemas across the country.
Being war time, the Inaugural Ceremony was a muted affair with no celebratory meal afterwards. It was just a dedication of the new home for Masonic Meetings. The event was presided over by one of the Grand Lodge Officers, JM Worthington. The very next day, the 1st September 1944, the first lodge meeting was held. This honour fell to Commercial Travellers Lodge which is now a part of Preston Guild Lodge 4408
After the war, the numbers of Freemasons in Preston grew rapidly and it was clear that the current building was not big enough. Ambitious plans were made in the 1950s as war time restrictions faded. Two more cottages were purchased along with Armstrong’s Soap Works and plans were submitted. However, the original design was to face onto High Street. It was made clear that plans were afoot to redevelop Preston and such an aspect would be unwise. It would appear that the genesis of Ringway went back a long way. The artists impression of that building shows a very different design to what we have today
The cottages and Soap works were demolished and new build was created on Saul Street. The Masons moved into that while the old Church was demolished and that part of the site redeveloped creating two new lodge rooms and the magnificent Ballroom, all of which are used today. However, the link with the past remains as the old 1862 school building was retained. It is now used as part of the Bar, the Kitchen and a Conference Room upstairs.
The Hall is taking part in the Heritage Open Days programme on Saturday 7th September from 10.00am till 4.00pm so people can see a genuine part of Preston’s History. Members of the Preston Masonic Group will be leading guided tours of all the Masonic Rooms. Oh, and the Bar will open serving food and drinks.
