Home of the freemasons' history
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🚨MUSEUM CLOSURE DATES SEPTEMBER🚨
Tuesday 10 September
Wednesday 11 September
Thursday 19 September
Wednesday 25 September
Planning a visit to the museum in September?
Due to events in Freemasons' Hall, we'll be closed to the public on the above dates, so be sure to plan ahead to avoid disappointment!
We'll be open for research visits Tues-Sat, but you'll need to visit our website to book your spot in advance to guarantee entry >> https://buff.ly/3YpViAo
As it's , we've rifled through the stores to dig out this Past Master's jewel for Connaught Lodge, No. 3270.
This shiny treasure features an Irish Wolfhound at it's centre. Why an Irish Wolfhound you ask? The Lodge was made up of members from the London Irish Rifles volunteer regiment and the wolfhound was their mascot.
The Duke of Conaught was their honourary Colonel when they were founded, so they named the Lodge after him.
This jewel was worn by the ninth Master of the Lodge, Alfred Bromet.
Are there any other Lodges out there with dogs on their jewels?
Ever wondered exactly what freemasons' symbols mean? Here's a quick explainer, using a masonic tracing board from our collection.
At the top, we see the Square, a badge of the Master of the Lodge, symbolising life lived ‘on the square’—in an honourable and upright manner. 🛠️
Beneath it, the Rough Ashlar and the Perfect Ashlar represent a Freemason's journey from imperfection to polished excellence. Just like real stones shaped by stonemasons, Freemasons improve themselves symbolically through their tools.
The Plumb Rule (right) and Level (left) tools are the badges of the Junior and Senior Wardens of the Lodge, ensuring that vertical and horizontal alignments are correct—both in construction and in life. They help the Master run the Lodge with precision. ⚖️
In the center, a gilded star shines with the letter 'G', standing for Geometry—a key principle in freemasonry.
Below the star, the intricate figure is the 47th Proposition of Euclid, also known as Pythagoras’ Theorem—a badge worn by those who have led the Lodge as Master. 📐
At the base, the chequered pavement reminds us of the ups and downs of life—good fortune and bad fortune that we all encounter. ⚫⚪
This unique tracing board is a testament to the rich tradition of Freemasonry, seen and used by hundreds of new freemasons over the years.
Discover more about tracing boards and how they're used on our blog. Link in Bio 🔗 ☝️
For we're highlighting one of the (surprisingly numerous!) jewels in our collection featuring an elephant.
This elaborate example features an elephant under a palm tree, framed in gold foliage. It was worn by the 23rd Master of Calabar Lodge, No. 3434, John Percy Ison, in 1933.
Can you spot how to tell he was the 23rd Master of the Lodge?
*Edited to correct the number
Interested in family history? Do you have a freemason in the family? Our Archivist and Records Manager Susan Snell shares how to get started online and make the most of our partnership with Ancestry on our Blog 👉 https://buff.ly/3WKvOfU .
With 1.7 million names of freemasons available online, you can access United Grand Lodge of England membership registers from 1751 to 1921 and uncover more about your ancestors.
If you don't have an Ancestry subscription, don't worry! You can visit the Museum in person and access it for free from our library.
Ready to begin your journey? Search for 'Grand Lodge England' on Ancestry UK and start discovering today!
Did you know that before photography, painting was the main way to capture people's appearance and character? The Museum of Freemasonry has an incredible collection of paintings from the 1720s onwards, showcasing the lives and stories of important figures in Freemasonry.
Many of these are hidden gems, tucked away in meeting rooms around Freemasons' Hall. Thanks to Art UK, a charity that photographs public art collections, you can now explore all our oil paintings online.
From tracing boards that explain Freemasonry ceremonies, to idyllic scenes of cricket matches, and even a merchant ship flying a square and compasses flag, our collection has something for everyone!
Discover the stories behind these paintings and explore the world of Freemasonry from the comfort of your own home. Visit our page on Art UK and get ready to discover something new! 👉 https://buff.ly/3Ysf0vs
Before masonic aprons were mass-produced, they were made from lambskin and hand-painted with intricate designs.
This particular example was produced around 1770 and includes many masonic symbols, including the chequered carpet, Volume of Sacred Law, the Seal of Solomon and the All-Seeing Eye.
The apron also includes the Latin phrase 'Sit Lux Et Lux Fuit', meaning 'Let there be light, and there was light'.
If you fancy admiring it for yourself, it's on display in our exhibition 'Inventing the Future' 👉 https://buff.ly/3zwZvb5
As it's 4th July, we though it was the perfect time to show you an American highlight from our latest exhibition.
In 1784 the Marquis of Lafayette presented his old friend George Washington with a masonic apron, supposedly embroidered by his wife Madame Lafayette. The original apron, preserved in the Museum of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, has many masonic symbols on it.
It has become so famous that many replicas exist and we're featuring one in our exhibition 'Inventing the Future'. It’s a recent commercially made example and allows current American freemasons to own and display a version in modern materials of the apron worn by their liberator and first President.
You can find out more about other American Presidents who were freemasons on our blog. Link in bio ☝️
🚨MUSEUM CLOSURE DATES JULY🚨
Tuesday 2 July
Wednesday 3 July
Thursday 11 July
Planning a visit to the museum in July??
Due to events in Freemasons' Hall, we'll be closed to the public on the above dates, so be sure to plan ahead to avoid disappointment!
We'll be open for research visits Tues-Sat, but you'll need to visit our website to book your spot in advance to guarantee entry >> https://buff.ly/3TVEK13
Want to delve into the history of masonic lodges? Check out one of our librarian, Martin Cherry's favourite objects in our collection!
It's an engraved list of lodges created by John Pine in 1725. This list, changing yearly, marked official lodges under the Grand Lodge of England and even charted lodges outside London.
Tiny enough to fit into a pocket, these lists were designed to be discarded making the surviving ones a precious part of our collection.
Watch our video to discover more fascinating details about this unique piece of history 👉 https://buff.ly/3yx5IDA
Our latest highlight from our collection of aprons is this early Royal Arch example, worn by J. T. Spry.
It dates from around 1790 and is made of white silk with a light blue silk ribbon border and fringe made of red cotton.
It's decorated with hand painted masonic emblems, including an arch, sun, moon, columns and a chequered pavement. The flap has a radiant All-Seeing Eye framed by a set square and compasses.
You can see it for yourself the Museum's South Gallery. Plan your visit today 👉 https://buff.ly/3URjuZi
Ever wondered about the intriguing and significant stories behind the items in our collection here at the Museum of Freemasonry?
One such treasured possession is a presentation set of three badges, or jewels as freemasons call them, our latest highlight from our 'Collections Favourites' video series.
They belonged to George Moore, a Lodge Treasurer, who sadly faced a tragic end. The jewels disappeared after his murder in 1854, only to reappear mysteriously in the 1920s.
Despite their unknown journey over 70 years, they're now cherished artifacts on loan to the museum. Join our Curator, as he unveils the intriguing tale behind these special jewels.
Experience the rich history of Freemasonry through these artifacts and more with us. Visit our website for the full video and to watch the rest of the series 👉 https://buff.ly/3P3ThVl
This week's featured apron is another hand-painted example from 1790, worn by Martin Westmorland, who was initiated into Antients Lodge No. 3b (now St George's and Cornerstone, No. 5) on 4th March 1789.
It's made of white leather with a painted dark blue border, an inner edge of silver lace and an outer edge of silver fringe. Masonic symbols feature in the centre of the apron, including columns, a chequered pavement, sun, moons and stars and a volume of sacred law.
Fancy admiring it up close? It's on display in our South Gallery as part of our exhibition 'Inventing the Future'. Link in bio.
🚨MUSEUM CLOSURE DATES JUNE🚨
Tuesday 11 June
Wednesday 12 June
Friday 14 June
Wednesday 26 June
Planning a visit to the museum in June??
Due to events in Freemasons' Hall, we'll be closed to the public on the above dates, so be sure to plan ahead to avoid disappointment!
We'll be open for research visits Tues-Sat, but you'll need to visit our website to book your spot in advance to guarantee entry >> https://buff.ly/3SkFpaU
As you can imagine, we've got a lot of aprons in the collection. In our latest series focusing on our favourite examples from the collection, we're celebrating the some early designs of apron, starting with those featuring in our exhibition 'Inventing the Future'.
This particular example is carefully hand-painted and dates from around 1790. It's made of white leather and decorated with various masonic symbols, including two columns (Doric on the left, Corinthian on the right), a chequered pavement, and an open book with a square and compasses on it.
The apron flap features an all-seeing eye surrounded by two interlocking triangles.
People are very familiar with a pewter tankard, but have you ever seen a leather one? This fine example features in our exhibition 'Inventing the Future'.
Popular among less-affluent freemasons, a leather jack or tankard
was a drinking vessel more practical than fine glass or porcelain. Hand-painted masonic emblems decorate the surface of this jack, a name derived from sleeveless leather jerkins with flared skirts worn by archers or guards.
Over time, such beer or ale jars were referred to as ‘black jacks’, from the internal coating of pitch or pine tar resin making them waterproof.
Our next highlight from our latest exhibition, 'Inventing the Future' is another favourite from our collections, this delicately-modelled Meissen figure.
By the mid-18th century, freemasonry was flourishing across Europe. Johann Joachim Kändler, chief model-maker at the Meissen porcelain factory in Germany, began to produce figurines representing freemasons to attract new markets.
With a red frock coat, patterned to suggest embroidered red silk, on his left-hand side this apprentice points to working tools on a pedestal. Purchased as conversation pieces for fine homes, such luxury items impressed other freemasons.
Future
Dive into the intricate worlds of history, art, and Freemasonry with our Collections Favourites.
In this video highlight, our Curator takes us through one of his favourite pieces—a large silver cup given to Sir John Doyle, a General and Governor-General of Guernsey. This detailed piece skillfully intertwines his Freemasonry with his military life, depicting scenes from the American Revolution and embodying masonic symbolism.
Discover the significance behind every element of this fascinating artifact, from the coat of arms of the Ancients Grand Lodge to the Nile crocodile handle. Explore the entire series on our website 👉 https://buff.ly/3HYQtF0
Our latest highlight from our current exhibition 'Inventing the Future' is this rather impressive cigar box.
Smoking ci**rs was a common feature of Lodge dining in the 1860s, before ci******es became more popular. Presented to Lodge of Antiquity, this cigar box was made from an oak tree from the Battle of Bosworth Field, fought between King Richard III and Henry VII during the Wars of the Roses.
The box features walnut veneers and six silver panels, two with engravings of the Duke of Sussex, Grand Master and Sir Christopher Wren, whose son Christopher was a member of the Lodge.
You can see the box for yourself on display in our South Gallery. Link in bio 👉 https://buff.ly/4d2CmwA
🚨MUSEUM CLOSURE DATES MAY🚨
Saturday 4 May
Thursday 9 May
Tuesday 14 May
Wednesday 15 May
Wednesday 22 May
Planning a visit to the museum in May?
Due to events in Freemasons' Hall, we'll be closed to the public on the above dates, so be sure to plan ahead to avoid disappointment!
We'll be open for research visits Tues-Sat (except Saturday 4 May), but you'll need to visit our website to book your spot in advance to guarantee entry >> https://buff.ly/4dlV1n5
We're willing to bet you've never seen a front door key quite like this one...
As approaches, we thought we'd highlight this stylish key to the doors of the impressive Grand Temple in Freemasons' Hall.
It was designed by Walter Gilbert, and opens the decorative brass doors to the Temple, which he also designed. The key picks out the lotus leaf design from the pillars either side of the doors.
Gilbert was the founder of the Bromsgrove Guild, an Arts and Crafts collective that specialised in design and manufacture.
Intrigued by masonic symbolism? This beautifully crafted item, the latest highlight from our Collections Favourites video series, is not just a brass box. Expertly engraved with symbols such as the checkerboard pattern, a representation of Solomon's Temple, the sun and moon, its exterior resembles a stone wall.
It's also pretty clever, compartmentalised into hidden sections. Press the sun or moon, and be astonished as compartments spring to life! Hidden within one is a key for a timepiece. Wondering where the watch is? A particular squarish area on the checkerboard reveals a hidden watch when pressed. It's not just the craftmanship; it's the secret mechanisms that make this piece truly fascinating.
Discover the watch box for yourself by exploring our Collection's Favourites video series on our website 👉 https://buff.ly/3xvjDcV
Can you imagine keeping your teabags in something like this? We've got a fair few drinking vessels in the collection, but tea caddies are more of a rarity.
Tea replaced beer and ale as the British national drink during the 18th century. This mahogany tea caddy includes a metal lining to protect its precious contents. The lady of the house prepared tea after dinner, while men drank alcohol.
Decorated with various masonic symbols, the right-hand side includes a Latin motto above a cross intended to read, In hoc signo vinces (In this sign you shall conquer), associated with the Knights Templar.
You can admire it for yourself in our latest exhibition 'Inventing the Future' in our Library and South Gallery.
In the latest highlight from our exhibition 'Inventing the Future', we're focusing in on s***fboxes and one of our particular favourites.
In the 18th century, the English custom of sniffing a pinch of s***f, powdered to***co scented with oils, spread across Europe. French craftsmen were experts in producing fine enamelled s***fboxes for purchase by freemasons seeking to impress members of social circles.
Richly decorated with masonic working tools and symbols, this small piece is one of c.100 items from the collection of Lewis Edwards (1888-1969), donated to the Museum by Alfred George Waters.
🚨MUSEUM CLOSURE DATES APRIL🚨
Tuesday 16 April
Wednesday 24 April
Thursday 25 April
Monday 29 April
Planning a visit to the museum in April?
Due to events in Freemasons' Hall, we'll be closed to the public on the above dates, so be sure to plan ahead to avoid disappointment!
We'll be open for research visits Tues-Sat, but you'll need to visit our website to book your spot in advance to guarantee entry 👉 https://buff.ly/47pUGvG
We'll be closed for Easter from 5pm today (Thursday 28th March), opening again on Tuesday 2nd April.
Before we take a bit of a break, we'll leave you with this rather impressive egg from our collection. Featuring the All Seeing Eye, Sun, Moon and Stars on the front, turn it round, and you'll spot the Square and Compass on the back.
The egg is French, made by Catherine Didon, and was purchased for the collection in 2002.
Happy Easter, and we hope to see you soon!
Come and explore our collections favourites in our video series.
Our latest highlight is this unique small s***f box, previously owned by a Freemason. This isn't like any ordinary to***co box, though! It's adorned with a brass inlay design featuring the compass, symbolising life lived within boundaries, and the square, denoting a life of honesty.
But the real surprise? Twist it around and you'd find a charming little creature, a bear, attached to it. "Scare Bear", as we call him, has beautifully crafted elements like mother of pearl eyes, added-on paws and ears, and tiny bone teeth.
Why the bear? A joke, perhaps, or was it a dear pet of the owner? We may never know the full story, but isn't the mystery intriguing?
Catch a glimpse of this piece on our website 👉 https://buff.ly/3ul1UDE
It's World Frog Day so we thought we'd show off one of our favourite frog mugs!
On the outside, this earthenware tankard looks pretty standard, with hand-coloured black transfer prints including masonic emblems over a chequered pavement with the coat of arms of the Moderns Grand Lodge.
Take a peek inside though, and you'll spot a rather cheerful-looking green sculpted frog, decorated with red detail.
Frog mugs were designed as a practical joke, having first appeared in the mid 1770's. They were popular into the 19th century and we've got a few of them in the collection.
Have you seen frog mugs in any other collections? Let us know!
Today, the public is unable to visit as Freemasons' Hall hosts members for the March Quarterly Communication.
These gatherings typically take place in the Grand Temple, here at Freemasons' Hall, but occasionally they venture outside of London. In fact, the most recent of these outside meetings was held in Wales last September.
To learn more about the history of Grand Lodge meetings held outside London, check out our blog 👉 https://buff.ly/3UeIvPg
Our Archivist Susan Snell highlights one of our most popular collections in the latest blog post from Explore Your Archive.
This occurred when the Museum of Freemasonry acquired a private archive relating to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
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At the Museum of Freemasonry, our goal is to help you learn about freemasonry in all its cultural richness. If you’re a freemason, the museum is a treasure trove for exploration. If you’re not a freemason, it’s the perfect place to visit and discover what freemasonry is all about.
Open Monday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm
Admission is free
More information can be found here: https://museumfreemasonry.org.uk
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