Aethelberht Lodge Historical Outline (1925–2025)
Formation and Consecration (1924–1925)
Initial meeting held in October 1924 to discuss forming a new lodge.
Sponsored by Rowena Lodge No. 3180, approved to meet at Masonic Hall, Adeline Road, Boscombe, on the first Friday of October to June.
Lodge consecrated in April 1925 at Bournemouth Town Hall by the Provincial Grand Master of Hampshire and Isle of Wight.
Over 350 Masons attended, representing Bournemouth’s professional and business community.
2. Early Years (1925–1950)
First regular meeting held in May 1925 at Masonic Hall, Adeline Road, Boscombe.
Supported the Million Memorial Fund, becoming Bournemouth’s first Hall Stone Lodge within six months.
Notable initiation in 1931 of a Worshipful Master’s two sons.
Consistent candidate growth, indicating demand for a new lodge in Boscombe.
Meetings continued at Boscombe until the Second World War, then temporarily relocated to Freemasons Hall, St. Michael’s Road, Bournemouth, and Selwyn Hall, Boscombe.
Returned to Adeline Road in 1944; sponsored Southbourne Lodge in 1945.
Celebrated Silver Jubilee in 1950.
3. Mid-20th Century (1950–1975)
Moved to Freemasons Hall, Knole Road, in 1957/58.
Golden Jubilee celebrated in 1975, attended by the Provincial Grand Master.
Sponsored The Lodge of St. Augustine in 1972.
4. Late 20th Century (1975–2000)
Official provincial visits in 1984, 1985, and 1988.
Supported charitable causes, including a significant donation to the Royal Masonic Institution for Boys.
Celebrated 75th anniversary in 2000 with a large gathering.
5. 21st Century (2000–2025)
Membership challenges addressed with initiatives like open days and a membership officer role (2017).
Awarded Bronze, Silver, and Gold Certificates for charitable festivals.
Adapted to COVID-19 restrictions with virtual meetings via Zoom (2020–2021).
Introduced 12 new members (2022–2024) and performed a historic quadruple 2nd-degree ceremony in 2024.
Continues charitable efforts, heading for a Platinum award by the end of current festival.
Celebrates 100th anniversary in 2025, reflecting on a strong foundation and sustained legacy.
Thanks to W. Bro. Bob Grant for his work in researching the lodge’s history, which has aided greatly in publishing the information on this page.
The Hall Stone Jewel
Aethelberht Lodge is the only known Lodge residing at the Knole Masonic Hall that was presented with this Jewel and is to be worn by successive Masters of the lodge.
The History of this Jewel presented to Lodges started from the end of the Great World War 1914/1918 when a meeting was held to start a fund to build a new hall and was to stand as a memorial to the almost three thousand Brethren who made the supreme sacrifice in the years of the war. This fund to raise monies was known as the Million Memorial Fund
In the very early days of the Lodge, it was resolved that support should be given to the Million Memorial Fund inaugurated by Grand Lodge and so qualify as a Hall Stone Lodge. The support given to the Appeal was so enthusiastic that less than six months after its Consecration the Lodge was to become the first in Bournemouth to become a Hall Stone Lodge.
In order to qualify for the jewel, Lodges had to contribute an average of ten guineas per member, such lodges are known as Hall Stone Lodges (thus giving the jewel its name). The above is a picture of the Aethelberht Hall Stone Jewel.
1,321 lodges at home and abroad qualified as Hall Stone Lodges; their names and numbers are inscribed on commemorative marble panels in the main ceremonial entrance vestibule of Freemasons’ Hall. The above picture shows Aethelberht Lodge inscribed on the marble panel and highlighted by the blue arrow.