Our History

The Bedford Lodge was in good repute as an operative Lodge in 1739. How long it had been incorporated is uncertain, as no documents have been preserved for the period from 1739 to 1766. On the 17th May 1766 the Lodge was constituted under the denomination of the Operative Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons No 364. Only Operative Masons were admitted before this time. The Lodge was not known as the Bedford Lodge when it was constituted as Lodges were only by their number at that time.

The brethren of No. 364 consisted of twenty-one operative Masons, two Stone-carvers and one Master Baker. It was one of only two London Lodges known to have been operative when constituted. The operative beginnings are remembered when a new Initiate joins the Lodge. At the Festive Board (the meal following a meeting), all the brethren eat Black Pudding and the Initiate drinks Ale from a silver tankard. This serves to remind us of those early days when Lodge members could only afford such humble food. The tankard was made in 1690 and was presented to W Bro James Harris in 1814, who was Secretary at that time.

Lodge No. 364 first became known as the Bedford Lodge in 1784. There is no direct evidence of why, but it is believed that it was named in honour of the Duke of Bedford, who was the landowner of the “Thistle and Crown” public house in Covent Garden, where the Lodge met in the early years. Since 11th February 1881, the Lodge has been authorised, by his Grace the Duke of Bedford to use the Coat of’ Arms on all documents and letters. The Bedford Lodge also uses the motto” Che Sara Sara” from the Coat of Arms.

Since 1766, there have been seven changes to the Lodge’s number and it became No. 157 in 1863. Although the Lodge is numbered 157, there are only 95 Lodges that precede Bedford Lodge on the register, held at the United Grand Lodge of England with a warrant dated before 17th May 1766. The original warrant was unfortunately lost in the early 1800’s. The present warrant is a “Warrant of Confirmation” and is dated 15th November 1819 and it confirms the date of constitution as the 17th May 1766″. We celebrated our 250th year in 2016.

The solid silver jewels of the Master and his Wardens originate from 1790, the Stewards’ jewel 1802 and the Deacons’ jewels 1810, which are a winged figure of Mercury and not the current Dove bearing an olive branch.

Bedford Lodge is also a Hall Stone Lodge which was conferred on those Lodges by the then Grand Master to those who contributed to the building of the current Freemasons’ Hall.

A list of Masters of the Lodge begins in 1790 as all details of those who were Master before this time were lost around that time. This list is reproduced on the back of the Lodge summons.