Freemasonry in Herefordshire dates back nearly 300 years.

The first recorded account of a lodge meeting in Hereford was on 16th January 1727 at the Swan and Falcon Inn, Broad Street, Hereford.

In the early days Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Shropshire, Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire including Bristol were one unit or Province known as ‘The Western Shires’ .

Several lodges were formed across the market towns of Herefordshire and subsequently closed and erased due to dwindling support, no doubt partly due to the very different transport and communication landscape in those times.

The oldest lodge currently operating in Herefordshire is Palladian Lodge No 120 based in Hereford. Its Warrant is dated 1762.

The Masonic Province of Herefordshire is the smallest on the mainland of the British Isles. However, as is often said, “Small is beautiful”, and this is an apposite description of Freemasonry in Herefordshire which is reflected in the history and beauty of the rolling green Herefordshire countryside as it is traversed by the gentle flow of the River Wye.

During the early years of Freemasonry in Herefordshire it was not unusual for Lodges to meet only twice each year which was a concession to the difficulty of travelling from place to place, especially in the winter months. Lodge members would either have to walk or ride horse-back to meetings as the local roads in the County were impassable for wheeled vehicles during bad weather. Therefore, a meeting could take up to three days in which to complete its business and overnight accommodation was necessary in many cases.

That is why hostelries were favoured for venues, since they supplied all the travellers’ needs from livery to liquid refreshment. However, the spread of the Industrial Revolution which resulted in the growth of the railways and improved roads ameliorated many of the early difficulties and Freemasonry continued to flourish during the 19th and 20th Centuries.

From “A History of Craft Freemasonry in Herefordshire 1727 – 2000” by W Bro Alwyn D Williams PJGD

Guiding you to our Lodges.

The history of any Province is reflected in its various Lodges, and, as Herefordshire remains a rather sparsely populated county, there are only fifteen lodges spread across the Province.  This is in contrast to the large Masonic Provinces whose Lodges may number in the hundreds, however, the resulting virtue is that there is a tremendous sense of camaraderie between Hereford Masons and an especially warm welcome awaits all those who wish to visit and share this Masonic bond.

More about our lodges

Our lodges comprise of nearly 500 members. Six of them meet in Hereford, and the others in the market towns of Kington, Leominster, Bromyard, Hay on Wye, Ross on Wye and Ledbury. Lodges start their meetings in September or October, and meet generally monthly until May.

Lodges in Hereford

Masonic Hall, Kyrle St, Hereford HR1 2EU

Palladian Lodge 120

Meets 1st Thursday in October to May

Vaga lodge 3146

Meets last Saturday in Sept to Nov & Jan to Apr

Dean Leigh Masters Lodge 3687

Meets 3rd Monday in Sept & May & 3rd Tuesday in Feb

Cantilupe Lodge 4083

Meets 3rd Thursday in October to May

Conningsby Lodge 6383

Meets 1st Tuesday in October to May

Delphis Lodge 7769

Meets 2nd Saturday in October to April

Dean Water Field Lodge 8089

Meets 4th Thursday in Sept, Oct, Nov & Jan to April

Lodges in Ross-On-Wye

Masonic Hall, Edde Cross Street, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7BZ

Vitruvian Lodge 338

Meets 1st Monday in October to May

Ariconium Lodge 8868

Meets 3rd Tuesday in Sept, Oct, Nov & Jan, Mar & Apr

Lodges in Ledbury

Feathers Hotel, Ledbury HR8 1DS

Eastnor Lodge 751

Meets 3rd Wednesday in October to May

Lodges in Leominster

Masonic Centre South St, Leominster, HR6 8JQ

Royal Edward Lodge 892

Meets 2nd Thursday in October to May

Lodges in Kington

Masonic hall, 26 Headbrook
Kington, HR5 3DY

Arrow Lodge 2240

Meets 2nd Monday in October to May

Lodges in Hay-on-Wye

Masonic Hall, Brecon Rd, HR3 5DZ

Loyal Hay Lodge 2382

Meets 3rd Monday in Nov, Jan, Feb, Mar & Apr
3rd Tuesday in May & 2nd Tuesday Oct & Dec

Lodges in Bromyard

Masonic Hall Bromyard HR7 4BT

St Peters Lodge 7368

Meets 4th Wednesday in Oct, Nov & Jan to May

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The Royal Arch – an essential next step.

Joining the Royal Arch (or ‘Chapter’) is the fourth and final stage in Pure Antient Masonry, as defined in the Act of Union of 1813 that created the current United Grand Lodge of England.

Anyone who has been a Master Mason for four weeks can join—and should aspire to join the Royal Arch, because becoming a Companion of the Order continues their voyage of discovery.

The Ceremony of Exaltation sees members follow the clues from the Third Degree to complete their journey in Pure Antient Masonry, in a spectacular and unforgettable ceremony. Through ongoing participation, members will work together with old friends and new Companions to build on the principles of the Craft, and unlock fresh perspectives on the meaning and value of Freemasonry.

If you are a Master Mason who has not yet become a member of the Royal Arch, we encourage you to find out more by talking to the Royal Arch Representative in your Lodge, or anyone who proudly wears the distinctive Royal Arch jewel.

The Province of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire is unique in so much as it is the only Royal Arch Province in the constitution that covers two Craft Provinces. Our Chapters meet at twenty locations across the two counties and provide a magnificent opportunity to meet new friends, visit new venues and experience the rich tapestry of Royal Arch Masonry.

You can email the Provincial Grand Membership Officer who will be delighted to help, and we look forward to welcoming you into the Order and our wonderful Province.

Discover more about the Provincial Grand Chapter of Gloucestershire & Herefordshire here

Chapters in Hereford

Hereford is home to chapters meeting at locations

Chapters in Hereford

Masonic Hall, Kyrle St, Hereford HR1 2EU

Palladian Chapter 120

Cantilupe Chapter 4083

Chapters in Ross-On-Wye

Masonic Hall, Edde Cross Street, Ross-on-Wye, HR9 7BZ

Vitruvian Chapter 338

Chapters in Leominster

Masonic Centre South St, Leominster, HR6 8JQ

Royal Edward Chapter 892

Chapters in Kington

Masonic hall, 26 Headbrook
Kington, HR5 3DY

Arrow Chapter 2240

Chapters in Hay-on-Wye

Masonic Hall, Brecon Rd, HR3 5DZ

Loyal Hay Chapter 2382

Chapters in Bromyard

Masonic Hall Bromyard HR7 4BT

St Peters Chapter 7368

Cathedral Masonic Trail.

Herefordshire Freemasons, Egerton Parker and John Perris originally created the masonic “Trail Around Hereford Cathedral” to show the links between Herefordshire Freemasons and the Cathedral. The brochure has now been revamped with images of the points of interest on the trail. We hope that the images and the new brochure will make it easier for you to find the links with Freemasonry around the Cathedral. You can either download the Trail brochure or pick up a free copy from the Cathedral when you visit