Longridge Lodge No 8077 came to be formed following a conversation between W.Bros. W.Carefoot, P.Pr.G.D., and V.N.Page, PM, together with Bros. C.M.J.Carefoot and A.E.Simpson at the Broughton Lodge No. 5437 installation in February 1963. These four Brethren, who all lived, and worked, in Longridge, decided that they would make a further attempt to establish a Masonic Lodge based on the village of Longridge.

Previous attempts were known to have failed, because Longridge, whilst geographically situated in the Masonic Province of East Lancashire, had always been associated with Preston, so that most of the Freemasons in the area were members of West Lancashire Lodges. Naturally they wanted any new Lodge consecrated in their own Province. Here lay the problem – this required adjustment between the two Provinces, and in the past this had not been forthcoming.

Apart from talking to the then Asst.Prov.G.M. W.Bro.Sir Thomas Hargreaves, P.G.D., and the Group Chairman W.Bro.E.W.Wells, P.G.D., and his Officers, these four Brethren decided to keep their ideas to themselves until the Provincial problem had been resolved. These senior Freemasons lent their support and it was eventually agreed between the Provinces that provided a substantial number of the Founders were West Lancashire Masons, the new Lodge could be consecrated by that Province and recruit in Longridge.

These discussions ran on through 1963, but early in 1964, W.Bro.W.Carefoot became seriously ill and the project was shelved for the remainder of that year. By the beginning of 1965, he had recovered and was ready to start again.

On the 22nd February, 1965, a letter signed by the four Brethren was sent to every Freemason they could identify in the Longridge area, inviting them to a meeting at ‘Woodville’, Longridge on the 2nd March 1965. There were 20 Brethren in attendance and eight apologies were received. W.Bro.W.Carefoot was appointed Chairman of the meeting with Bro.A.E.Simpson as Secretary. The meeting resolved that a Longridge Lodge be formed and that, if possible, it was to meet in Longridge. After a very full investigation of various venues, this latter proposal was found to be impractical and was dismissed. Consultations and meetings went on during 1965, culminating in a Petition bearing the names of 26 Founders being presented and signed at the meeting of Jubilee Lodge No. 5555 on the 3rd November, 1965. The Founders all had close associations with Longridge and came from a variety of trades and professions. Amongst them were Farmers, Builders, Teachers, Haulage Contractors, Engineers, Local Government Officers, a Football Club Manager, a Butcher, an Insurance Official, a Licensee, an Auctioneer and Valuer, a Building Society Manager and Corn Mill Manager. Between them they represented 16 different Lodges (six from the Mother Lodge – Jubilee No 5555) and three Provinces other than West Lancashire. They paid a founders fee of 20 guineas and the first Annual Subscription was 7 guineas.

The Consecration and Installation Ceremony took place at the Masonic Temple, Preston, on Monday, 18th April, 1966. The Consecrating Officer was R.W.Bro.L.E.Rutherford, Provincial Grand Master for the Province of West Lancashire. This was followed by the Installation of W.Bro.W.Carefoot, P.Pr.G.D. as the first Worshipful Master by W.Bro.T.W.Ward, P.G.D., Deputy Provincial Grand Master. The present Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro.Alan Fletcher assisted in the Consecration in the capacity of Pr.Dep.G.D.C.

W.Bro.W.Carefoot was succeeded as Worshipful Master by eight Founders, the last of the founders to occupy the chair was (1989/90) W.Bro.T.Wadsley, P.Pr.J.G.W. (EL). At this first meeting W.Bro.A.G.Nicholls, P.Pr.G.D. was proposed for Honorary Membership, together with four Brethren to become Joining Members and four gentlemen to become initiates. Three of these Joining Members and two of the Initiates later occupied the Chair of the Lodge.

Sixteen Founders eventually attained Provincial Grand Rank, three of them viz: W.Bro.T.Blackburn, Pr.D.G/D.C., A.E.Simpson, Pr.A.G.D.C. and C.M.J.Carefoot, Pr.G.Stwd., being appointed Acting Officers of the Province. They were later promoted to the Grand Rank of P.A.G.D.C.

In May 1981 W.Bro.Balckburn became the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies for the Province of West Lancashire, an appointment that he occupied with great dignity until 1986. In 1985, he was appointed by United Grand Lodge to the Acting Rank of Junior Grand Deacon and promoted to the Past Rank of Senior Grand Deacon in 1988. On his retirement as Pr.G.D.C., in 1986, he became an Asst. Prov.Grand Master with specific responsibility for the 6th and 7th Liverpool Groups. In 1989 he returned to his Masonic Birthplace to succeed the retiring W.Bro.E.C.Dickson P.S.G.D. Asst.Prov.G.M., in charge of the Preston Group of Lodges. W.Bro.Blackburn was later appointed to be a V.W.Bro. as Grand Sword Bearer of England and is a Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Province of West Lancashire.

The Founders commissioned Mr Ellis Tomlinson, M.A., F.H.S., a Heraldic Designer to produce samples for a Lodge crest at a fee of five and a half guineas. The approved design appears on the Founders and Past Master’s Jewel, on the Worshipful Master’s Silver Collar Chain and on all Lodge Stationary. It is the centre piece of the Lodge Banner which was presented by one of its Founders, the late W.Bro.H.Riding, P.Pr.J.G.W. (Designate). Although he did see the completed Banner, it was most unfortunate that by his untimely death, W.Bro.Riding was not only prevented from being present at the dedication of the Banner he had so generously donated, but also from receiving his high Provincial Rank.

The Worshipful Master, Bro W.Carefoot, P.Pr.G.D., presented a solid silver chain, which engraved with the names of the Masters of the Lodge, continues to be worn by them during their year of office. At this point it might be of interest to note that the early Past Master’s Jewel were produced in silver at a cost of £8.15.0. The present day cost of these would well be over £100.

Extracted from the book, “A Brief History of Longridge Lodge” compiled by W.Bro. P.H.Cairns.

Longridge Lodge No 8077

Meets at the Harris Park Conference Centre, Garstang Road, Preston.

On 4th Wednesday, September -  November and January -  April
(Installation – March)                                
e-mail  longridge.sec@btinternet.com