LONDON
Masonic Jewels Tour - UK Day 1 - LONDON
This day was spent in London and started before 7.00am at Heathrow after the flight from Singapore and clearing customs.
We confirmed with our bus driver, who was also a freemason, that the toll to get into central London had been paid.
Our first Masonic experience was passing by Appsley House, which used to have the Address - No. 1 London.
It was built by the freemason Architect, Robert Adam and was at one time the home of the Duke of Wellington, also a
Freemason. Having paid to enter the Pall Mall in advance, it is shut to cars! We progressed from Admiralty Arch to Buckingham
Palace, home of the Duke of Edinburgh, and late George VI, both Freemasons.
Tour to be continued in next update
We made our way to Westminster Abbey, whose West facade was the work of Nicholas Hawksmoor, freemason. This was where the last Archbishop of Canterbury who was a freemason, Geoffrey Fisher, crowned Queen Elizabeth II. After time for a photo opportunity the coach took us by Big Ben and the House of Commons. The most famous freemason MP was British prime minister was Sir Winston Churchill, though he was no longer a practicing freemason at the time of his Parliamentary career. It was noticeable that there was a very high security presence all armed with sub machine guns.
Crossing the River Thames by Lambeth Bridge, one of the many bridges, provided an excellent chance to photo the whole of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.
Crossing the River Thames by Lambeth Bridge, one of the many bridges, provided an excellent chance to photo the whole of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.
We continued our tour, passing by Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square. the memorial to Britains most famous Admiral, Lord Nelson who was a freemason. Our next programmed stop was Temple Church which meant we had to travel down to the famous Strand past the statue to St. Clements Danes and opposite the Royal Courts of Justice the entrance to the Inner Temple, the famous centre of law since the 14th century, and the Temple Church.
Unfortunately the Temple Church was late opening to the public that day, so we made our way to Greater Queens Street, checked the time for the afternoon tour of the United Grand Lodge, and spent the intervening hour having a drive around some of London's famous landmarks including Piccadily Circus, and the Albert Hall, before making our way back to the Temple.
The Temple Church is a Knights Templar Church, where the round part was consecrated in 1185, and the modern eastern Nave or choir in 1240, with a small annex added in 1842. The surrounding square or courtyard is only on the South side and is quite small making photography difficult.
Unfortunately the Temple Church was late opening to the public that day, so we made our way to Greater Queens Street, checked the time for the afternoon tour of the United Grand Lodge, and spent the intervening hour having a drive around some of London's famous landmarks including Piccadily Circus, and the Albert Hall, before making our way back to the Temple.
The Temple Church is a Knights Templar Church, where the round part was consecrated in 1185, and the modern eastern Nave or choir in 1240, with a small annex added in 1842. The surrounding square or courtyard is only on the South side and is quite small making photography difficult.
Inside the round portion are graves with effigies of - A member of the de Ros family to which I have lineage, Gilbert Marshall and several more Knights Templars. The round walls are said to have excellent accoustics. The tomb of Edward Plowden and the Altar Tomb of Robert Martin, Recorder of London 1618 add a touch of colour.
The Chancel or Nave had been added in 1240, on the expectation of having Henry II buried in the church. Note the purbeck marble pillars are continued from the earlier Round Church.
The tour party then made its way back to Greater Queen Street, and dispersed for a wander and then lunch, most of us passing the Freemasons Arms and going on to Covent Garden. Covent Garden was the old vegetable market for London, with the produce being displayed in lower selling rings, with buyers above looking down. I enjoyed a huge baked potato and butter while being treated to a string quartet playing in one of the old vegetable selling rings, before a short walk back along Greater Queen Street to Freemasons Hall for a guided tour of the building.
The Grand Lodge room in Freemasons Hall is frequently let out for large functions and events, which often means the front door is lit up in the most spectaular manner. It is now one of the top venues available for rent in London.
The Grand Lodge room in Freemasons Hall is frequently let out for large functions and events, which often means the front door is lit up in the most spectaular manner. It is now one of the top venues available for rent in London.
Food For Thought
