Faringdon Masonic Lodge 1770

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Welcome to the official site of The Faringdon Masonic Centre Limited. The Centre is within the Masonic Province of Berkshire and is home to: The Vale of White Horse Lodge No. 1770; Ashdown Lodge No. 8592; Vale of White Horse Chapter No. 1770.

 

HISTORY

The Vale of White Horse Lodge has been in existence since 1878 and in 1974 sponsored the formation of a daughter Lodge, the Ashdown Lodge. In 1984 the Holy Royal Arch Vale of White Horse Chapter was formed.

 

The Faringdon Masonic Centre is situated in the market town of Faringdon lying in the Vale of the White Horse Uffington, the oldest of all white horses, which features on The Vale of White Horse 1770 banner. Although the town of Faringdon, since boundary changes on 1st April 1974, lies in the County of Oxfordshire the Faringdon Masonic Centre remains within the Masonic Province of Berkshire despite the fact it is geographically in Oxfordshire.

 

The first Freemasons Lodge in the area was The Vale of White Horse Lodge (No. 1770) founded at Faringdon in 1878; it has regularly met, without interruption, since that year.

 

It was founded by masons of The Abbey Lodge at Abingdon (No. 945 - founded in 1863), with the support of several other lodges in the area, most notably of The Royal Sussex Lodge of Emulation at Swindon (No. 355 – founded in 1818).

 

Its consecration and dedication on 31 October 1878 was an event of great interest to the local population with a full account of the proceedings appearing in the local newspaper. The Article that appeared in the Swindon Advertiser of Saturday November 2nd 1873 can be viewed HERE (With acknowledgement to W Bro. N. Maw)

 

Its first meeting place was in the Faringdon Savings Bank premises, now the Faringdon Council Offices, at the town centre end of Gloucester Street. The title of the bank can still just be made out on the carved headstone lintel of the door.

 

Since that time meetings have been held in various locations, even in a garage in the Second World War when the present Masonic Hall was requisitioned by the military.

 

The present Masonic Hall in Gloucester Street was formerly a Methodist Chapel and was purchased in 1921 together with the adjoining three cottages which were very soon after sold off to reduce the debt of the purchase. All still stand.

 

In 1974 Ashdown Lodge (No. 8592) was founded as a “daughter” lodge of The Vale of White Horse Lodge and in 1984 the Vale of White Horse Chapter (No. 1770) was also founded. Further information on Ashdown can be found on the Shrivenham Heritage Society website.

 

Masonic membership has always been broadly based, encompassing a variety of occupations and the first meeting in 1878 approved the applications of a surgeon, butcher and a corn merchant and that diversity of our members continues today.


The purpose of this website is to give masons & members of the public an insight into Freemasonry in general and our two Lodges and Chapter in particular. . If you are thinking about becoming a Mason, but, perhaps, are unsure how to go about it, or have unanswered questions or doubts, then please visit the "About Freemasonry" page or do Contact Us and we will try to help you; we would love to hear from you.

On 2nd February 2017 The Vale of White Horse Lodge 1770 celebrated its 1000th regular meeting attended by the Provincial Grand Master for Berkshire, Right Worshipful Brother Martin Geoffrey Peters who also dedicated our new Banner presented by Worshipful Brother B. R. Barnes P.M. PPJGW, a replica of the original one presented in the early 1900's. by Worshipful Brother G. P. Pocock P.M. PPGW Treasurer.

To mark the occasion a pamphlet was produced which contains:

Short history of the Lodge

List of the original 18 Petitioners for the Founding of the Lodge 

List of all Masters 1878 to 2017

Digest of Lodge Transactions up to 2017

1770 1000th meeting vale of white horse lodge pamphlet

Ashdown Lodge – Faringdon No 8592 – Province of Berkshire 1974 – 2024

The Ashdown Lodge was Consecrated on Saturday, 28th September 1974 at The Berkshire Masonic Centre, Sindlesham. The sponsoring, or Mother Lodge, was The Vale of White Horse Lodge No 1770, Faringdon. The first Worshipful Master was John Humphrey Parker-Jervis.

The 50th Anniversary was held on Thursday 19th September 2024 in Faringdon.

An account by W.Bro. N. Maw of those fifty years can be viewed here

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CENTRE FRONT

Frank Hazell LIDDIARD

Worshipful Master of The Vale of White Horse Lodge 1770

Taken in 1910; almost certainly on the occasion of his installation.

The location appears to be the Faringdon Corn Exchange attached to the Faringdon Savings Bank where the Lodge met until the purchase of the current premises in 1921.

The Savings Bank still exists as the Council Offices and the Corn Exchange has long been used for a variety of functions, including the two Faringdon Craft and one Royal Arch Chapter Festive Boards after their meetings. The words "Savings Bank" still appear on the door lintel.


The family were well known locally - Liddiard's Grocers was at 7 Market Place, Faringdon, run by Frank's father George Liddiard, then by Frank's brother, George Ernest Liddiard. Frank had a separate Grocers shop at 21 Market Place.


Photograph supplied by grandson of Frank Liddiard, John Evans.

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