Address: Freemasons Hall, 148 High Street, Lewes, BN7 1XT.
History of the building
Shortly after its formation in 1796, South Saxon Lodge decided to acquire its own building. A site containing part of the ruins of the old West Gate and town wall was bought, and the first building went up there in 1797. Its Foundation Stone is set in the south wall of the cellar, and a photograph of it is on display.
The first building was used for many years but eventually became unusable. The lodge moved to other venues, including the Castle Barbican. While meeting there it flew a "Jolly Roger" banner, which is now exhibited on the stairs. It kept ownership of the plot, and in 1868 decided to put up a new building. The present building is the result.
The Foundation Stone of the second building was laid in 1868 and is set in the east wall of the Lower Room, near the entrance to the stairs. The dates on both stones are given in Anno Domini and Anno Lucis. The first stone uses the rounded figure of 4000 B.C. for the creation of the world, and the second uses the figure of 4004 B.C. worked out by Bishop Ussher in the seventeenth century.
What you will see
- The curved wall of the bar area follows the old West Gate. The original walls go down under the floor and have been exposed, as has the inside of the walls that lead down to the cellar. The cellar is out of bounds for safety reasons, but photographs of it hang on the wall.
- The upper floor holds the Temple and a small outer room for the Tyler, who guards the door during meetings. More remains of the West Gate lie beneath the floor of the Tyler's room, and can be uncovered.
- Fireplaces once stood on each side of the Temple but were removed long ago. In the Second World War a ladder was fixed in the centre of the room, leading to a roof hatch so that bombs and shrapnel could be removed. These days the main problem is pigeons.
- A door in the north wall of the Tyler's room leads to a small paved garden, with an old pipe kiln at the end. It gives its name to Pipe Passage, which runs alongside the building. The kiln probably pre-dates the first building.
- The remains of the old town wall run along the west side of the garden, and continue opposite the front of the building down to the old Chapel.
Visiting
Each year Lewes holds a Heritage Day, and on that day Lewes Masons open the Temple to the public. We explain the symbolism of the Temple to visitors who are not Masons, and answer questions.
