Freemasons' Tavern
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Watercolour of the Freemasons' Tavern by John Nixon circa 1800
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 organisations from the eighteenth century until it was demolished to make way for the Connaught Hotel in 1909.
In 1769, the Grand Lodge 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.
The hall[edit]
Meeting in the Hall of the Freemason's Tavern, London with sign language for deaf and mute people, published in the Illustrated London News, 23 January 1875
The hall was not only used for Masonic purposes, but also became an important venue in London for a variety of meetings and concerts.[1]
Organisations using the hall included:
- African Institution
- Anti-Slavery Society[1]
- British and Foreign Bible Society[1]
- Highland and Island Emigration Society[2]
- The Football Association (FA) held its first meeting here on 26 October 1863
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "Freemasons' Hall, London: A History". History of Freemasonry. Library and Museum Charitable Trust of the United Grand Lodge of England. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
- ^ * Balfour, R.A.C. (1990–92). "The Highland and Island Emigration Society, 1852–1858". Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness. LVII: 440.
