Icknield Lodge

Lodge Number:

4670

Consecration:

18 February 1925

Meeting Place:

The Cloisters - Letchworth

Meeting Dates:

2nd Friday March (Installation)
2nd Friday January
2nd Friday February
2nd Friday October
2nd Friday November

THOSE MORLEY`S DO IT AGAIN !

For some years now, Jim Morley, (Past Master and DC of Icknield Lodge no. 4670, meeting at the Cloisters, Letchworth Garden City) and Jean, (his very hard working/non complaining wife), of Mill Lodge, Gosmore, have hosted a superb Annual Summer Garden Party, within the gardens of their lovely home, just outside Hitchin.

This year, on Sunday August 14th was no exception, when 47 friends and family, (many with Masonic connections), attended for a fine lunch, raffle, auction and other games and treats to raise funds for charity.

Past Master and Lodge Secretary, Ray Leafe assisted by organising an "Irish Auction" and raffle and Derek Wootton, Past Master and Lodge ADC managed the Bar facility and a fine job they did too.

Over £300.00 was raised on this occasion. Sincere thanks are extended to Jim and Jean from those who attended, for arranging such a super event once again.

"Hosts, Jim and Jean Morley"

80th. BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Over 80 members and guests joined together at "The Cloisters" Letchworth Garden City on Friday, 11th February, 2005 to celebrate the lodges 80th anniversary.

Whilst members conducted a short business meeting the guests were entertained to tea and biscuits in the bar and after the closure of the lodge the guests, by special dispensation, were invited to join the members in the Temple for a short talk on the history of the lodge and Freemasonry given in a most able fashion by the secretary, W.Bro. Ray Leafe.

Letchworth, the first garden city in the world, was founded in 1903 and as it gradually developed and industry became established many were attracted to seek in the new town, some of these were already Masons but now unable to attend their own lodges regularly. The nearest Lodge at that time was Cecil Lodge No. 449 which met in Hitchin but even this presented difficulties as there was no convenient transport available. Although several attempts were made to establish a Lodge in Letchworth the main problem was always a lack of suitable accommodation and it was not until 1923 when Fred Nott a local baker and restaurant owner (and also a Mason) announced that he was going to build a suite of function rooms over his cafe and bakery in Eastcheap.

Local masons led by a Bro. Tappenden soon grasped the opportunity and immediately applied for permission to found a new lodge in Letchworth to be called the Icknield Lodge after the Icknield Way, which bisected the new town and adopted the figure of a Roman Centurion standing on the Icknield Way as the centre piece of its banner.  A Warrant was issued on the 6th. August 1924 empowering the 26 Founder members to proceed with the formation of a Lodge to serve the Letchworth area and the Lodge was duly consecrated in February 1925.

Membership grew quickly and at the end of the first year stood at 69, which more than justified the faith of its founders. For a time the Lodge had well in excess of a hundred members, which, inevitably caused some problems and in due course Icknield Lodge was instrumental in the founding of the Letchworth Garden City Lodge (No. 5109) the Iceni Lodge (No. 5975) and the Cloisters Lodge (No. 7100) to satisfy the demand.

Originally the Lodge met in the newly built Icknield Halls for such they were named by Fred Nott, and we like to think that they were in fact named after the lodge their first regular customers, but in 1948 the Cloisters building was gifted to local freemasons by Miss Amy Lawrence and we moved there in 1955.

After the talk members and their guests enjoyed convivial drinks in the bar before joining together for a five course candle lit banquet in the Dining Room. The Worshipful Master asked that following the deaths of two local fire fighters, the proceeds of the evening (£150) be donated to the Stevenage Fire Fighters Fund and as an added bonus the evening resulted in applications from four future candidates.

80years on Icknield Lodge may be smaller, but it is still as enthusiastic and more importantly, a very happy lodge.

This Lodge has its own website at www.icknieldlodge.org.uk