Three of the artefacts we photographed this week were a plate and two dishes from the Freemason’s Hall, Rushden.
Plate
Large dish
Small dish
The Masonic Hall in Wellingborough Road was opened on 4 December, 1930 by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master W. Bro. G. F. E. Wilkinson. Previously the Rushden Pemberton Lodge had no premises of its own.
The Rushden Echo and Argus described the building as being “of unpretentious design, built in two stories of dark Hopping Hill brick with Finedon stone dressings. The front portion is covered by a flat roof, but over the principal rooms at the rear the roof is pitched, giving additional height to the Lodge rooms. Over the dining room is a Lodge room of similar size, lighted, according to the traditions of Freemasonry, with one small window only. There is a stepped dais at one end, and the fittings and furnishings combine to make it an impressive meeting place. Also on the upper floor are robing rooms for the officers and brothers. There is central heating and electric lighting. The floors throughout the building are of pitch pine, and the other woodwork is Oregon pine.”
The architect was Mr. H. Adnitt of Rushden, the builders were Messrs. Packwood & Son, and the carpentry was done by Messrs. Whittington and Tomlin.
Inside the Masonic Hall
This was taken at our 1950s Tea which was part of the Jubilee Celebrations in 2022
In December 1918 the installation of Bro. W. W. Rial as Worshipful Master of the Pemberton Lodge of Freemasons took place at the Queen Victoria Hotel. Other officers were elected and the meeting was attended by many visitors.
Mr. Walter William Rial was headmaster of Alfred Street School in Rushden from 1914 to 1933, and was also a worker for the National Union of Teachers. In 1934 he was honoured at a dinner held in the Masonic Hall, Wellingborough, in recognition of his work for the teaching profession
The Queen Victoria Hotel
Alfred Street School
Mr. Rial died in April 1948 at Bridport, Dorset where he lived after he retired 14 years previously. At one time he was president of Northants County Association of the National Union of Teachers, and as a Freemason he was a member of Rushden Pemberton Lodge, the Wellingborough Chapter and the Kettering Knight Templars, obtaining high degrees in all branches.