| A Run Down Building |
Now Re – Born 2014 into Urmston Masonic Hall 1881 |
| The story begins around 1878 when a group of like minded reasonably wealthy local Urmston people decided that it would be a good idea to create a club with a well fitted out building along with a large bowling green. The actual works began in 1881 this date can be seen on the amazing tower which for the life of me I can only think was created purely for its atheistic value as seen in typical Victorian buildings of the time, it would certainly have made it stand out in the area especially because as far as I know there were no buildings directly in front of it where the new green was to be created. |
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Oldest Photograph |
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| Earliest Painting |
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Aerial View showing land behind
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| Newest Painting |
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Words from original Advertisement
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| After doing much research I obtained the only known photograph of the building, there is also an early water colour painting which I think is circa 1900, which shows several characters, the men are complete with top hats and the lady in view appears to be complete with dress bustle. There are two other pictures one is an oil painting from possibly some time in the 60’s, the other is a fine line drawing by one of my good friends who is a member of my FSE Mark Lodge W. Bro. Tim Burns, completed in 2017. |
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Line drawing |
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| Just Before Building (note two chimneys) |
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Concrete everywhere
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| Scrub Land |
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Work Starts
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| OOps Wrong Place |
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Now Lets Get Stuck In
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| Information published to attract new members on its completion read as follows, Large Bowling green, and Handsome Pavilion fitted with Billiard Tables, Reading Rooms Etc. I somehow don’t think that would sell it today!! |
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Old Practice Room |
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| Main Room |
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Old Ceiling Windows
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| The Old Viewing Veranda (then Office) |
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Resting Place for Snooker Table
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| Old Beer Cellar (Dear Me) |
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Early Days
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| It was purchased by the Masons in 1934 eventually to became Urmston Masonic Club, as time passed a new building had been erected on part of the bowling green which became Urmston Masonic Hall, this building in turn has now become known as “The Venue” and is used for many events, large Weddings, Anniversaries, Birthdays etc. |
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There must have been a leak |
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| An amazing archway in the old brickwork |
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The mysterious bell shaped funnel
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And the Rains Came
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| Laying the Cornerstone |
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Bar in Lounge
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| All Lodge meetings now take place in the 1881 building with the exception of the very odd occasion when a very large number may be attending for a special event. |
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Dining Room Burns Night |
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Lounge
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Boardroom
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| New Kitchen |
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Passageway
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| The new building and refurbishment of the new Masonic Hall 1881, was mainly financed by the Lodge members who moved to Urmston when the South Manchester Masonic Hall on Edge Lane Chorlton was lost, I convinced most of the Lodges who had moved to keep their funds together from their shareholding as received which in turn enabled the well over half a million to be invested in the new Urmston Masonic Hall 1881. |
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Lounge |
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| Ceiling in Lounge |
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Passageway
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| The Hall looks basically on the outside at the front just as it was when built in the 1880’s, at the back it has been considerably extended into the V shaped plot of scrub land, (I do wonder what the original owners used that spare land for) inside now is a very modern building, Lodge Room, Anti Room, Dining Room with well stocked bar, Large Lounge area (which can also be used for larger dining) Large Modern Kitchen and Board Room, down stairs is a small Chapter Room, Regalia cabinets, Beer storage area, Boiler room, Chefs office, Archive and general Storage Area. |
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The Front Just before Building Started, We Used To Have Two Chimneys! |
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| Dining Room for Lodge Dinner |
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In The Snow
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| I hope this has been of some interest to you, the plight of South Manchester Masons Hall is really just as sad to me as the recent closing of Leyland Masonic Hall, which I thought was brilliant and always enjoyed attending, In this day and age all halls need your help to survive whether it be from Lodge Donations at Installation Meetings, or by Volunteers to help perhaps in some of the routine jobs being done or in maintaining the buildings. |
| Stay Safe. Stay In. Keep Well. |
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Keep Talking... Friends and Relatives Are Only A Telephone Call Away.
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| Words and pictures by Austin N Fletcher. PGStwd |
| Flixton Shepherd Eastwood Mark Lodge. No.1173 |
