The Freemasons' Tavern was established in 1775 at 61–65 Great Queen Street in the West End of London. It served as a meeting place for a variety of notable organisations from the 18th century until it was demolished in 1909 to make way for the Connaught Rooms.
Watercolour of the Freemasons' Tavern by John Nixon circa 1800
Meeting in the Hall of the Freemason's Tavern, London with sign language for deaf and mute people, published in the Illustrated London News, 23 January 1875
The hall was not only used for Masonic purposes, but also became an important venue in London for a variety of meetings and concerts.[1] Organisations using the hall included:
In 1909 the Grand Lodge demolished most of the Freemasons' Tavern and replaced it over succeeding decades with a new building designed by H. V. Ashley and Winton Newman, who also designed the adjoining Freemasons' Hall. The new building, costing £30,000, was named the Connaught Rooms after the Lodge's Grand Master, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.[4][5]
After a further renovation by Friendly Hotels (later the Real Hotel Company) in the 1980s it reopened as the New Connaught Rooms, a hotel and conference centre. The art deco Grand Hall can seat 800 conference delegates.[6] When the Real Hotel Company collapsed in 2009,[7]Principal Hayley Group bought the venue,[6] renamed it the Grand Connaught Rooms,[6][8] and in 2016 placed it in its De Vere brand.[9] In 2010 it became Grade II* listed.[5]
ReferencesEdit
^ abc. History of Freemasonry. Library and Museum Charitable Trust of the United Grand Lodge of England. Archived from the original on 19 July 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
^Balfour, R.A.C. (1990–92). "The Highland and Island Emigration Society, 1852–1858". Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness. LVII: 440.
^Moody, Richard T. J. (2009). "Dining with the Founding Fathers: a personal view". In Lewis, Cherry; Knell, Simon J. (eds.). The Making of the Geological Society of London. Special Publications. Vol. 317. Geological Society of London. pp. 439–448. doi:10.1144/SP317.24. ISBN978-1-86239-277-9. S2CID 128713727. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
^ abcMcGhee, Christy (26 October 2009). "Grand Connaught Rooms' relaunch party". Conference & Incentive Travel. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
^Thorley, Chantelle (23 January 2009). "New Connaught Rooms latest crunch casualty". Campaign. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
^Edwards, Peter (25 June 2009). "Principal Hayley aims to check in with deals for more quality hotels". The Yorkshire Post. Leeds. They will spend a further £7m on refurbishing the New Connaught, which will be renamed The Grand Connaught Rooms, as they seek to attract more high-end customers to stay overnight at both properties and use their conference facilities.
^"De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms". De Vere. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
freemasons, tavern, established, 1775, great, queen, street, west, london, served, meeting, place, variety, notable, organisations, from, 18th, century, until, demolished, 1909, make, connaught, rooms, watercolour, john, nixon, circa, 1800, contents, history, . The Freemasons Tavern was established in 1775 at 61 65 Great Queen Street in the West End of London It served as a meeting place for a variety of notable organisations from the 18th century until it was demolished in 1909 to make way for the Connaught Rooms Watercolour of the Freemasons Tavern by John Nixon circa 1800 Contents 1 History 2 Connaught Rooms 3 References 4 External sitesHistory Edit nbsp Meeting in the Hall of the Freemason s Tavern London with sign language for deaf and mute people published in the Illustrated London News 23 January 1875In 1769 the Premier Grand Lodge of England decided to build a Central Hall A building was purchased in Great Queen Street in 1775 and Thomas Sandby was tasked with building a hall in the garden The original house became the tavern with a second house providing office space for the Freemasons In 1813 the Premier Grand Lodge and rival Ancient Grand Lodge of England merged to form the United Grand Lodge of England The hall was not only used for Masonic purposes but also became an important venue in London for a variety of meetings and concerts 1 Organisations using the hall included Political Economy Club African Institution British and Foreign Anti Slavery Society 1 for the World Anti Slavery Convention in 1840 2 British and Foreign Bible Society 1 Highland and Island Emigration Society 3 The Football Association FA held its first meeting here on 26 October 1863Connaught Rooms Edit nbsp Grand Connaught Rooms main entrance 2017 Connaught Rooms redirects here Not to be confused with Connaught Hotel or Connaught Hall In 1909 the Grand Lodge demolished most of the Freemasons Tavern and replaced it over succeeding decades with a new building designed by H V Ashley and Winton Newman who also designed the adjoining Freemasons Hall The new building costing 30 000 was named the Connaught Rooms after the Lodge s Grand Master Prince Arthur Duke of Connaught and Strathearn 4 5 After a further renovation by Friendly Hotels later the Real Hotel Company in the 1980s it reopened as the New Connaught Rooms a hotel and conference centre The art deco Grand Hall can seat 800 conference delegates 6 When the Real Hotel Company collapsed in 2009 7 Principal Hayley Group bought the venue 6 renamed it the Grand Connaught Rooms 6 8 and in 2016 placed it in its De Vere brand 9 In 2010 it became Grade II listed 5 References Edit a b c Freemasons Hall London A History History of Freemasonry Library and Museum Charitable Trust of the United Grand Lodge of England Archived from the original on 19 July 2016 Retrieved 19 July 2016 The Anti Slavery Society Convention 1840 National Portrait Gallery London Retrieved 20 December 2020 Balfour R A C 1990 92 The Highland and Island Emigration Society 1852 1858 Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness LVII 440 Moody Richard T J 2009 Dining with the Founding Fathers a personal view In Lewis Cherry Knell Simon J eds The Making of the Geological Society of London Special Publications Vol 317 Geological Society of London pp 439 448 doi 10 1144 SP317 24 ISBN 978 1 86239 277 9 S2CID 128713727 Retrieved 7 July 2020 a b Historic England Grand Connaught Rooms Camden 1393970 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 7 July 2020 a b c McGhee Christy 26 October 2009 Grand Connaught Rooms relaunch party Conference amp Incentive Travel Retrieved 7 July 2020 Thorley Chantelle 23 January 2009 New Connaught Rooms latest crunch casualty Campaign Retrieved 7 July 2020 Edwards Peter 25 June 2009 Principal Hayley aims to check in with deals for more quality hotels The Yorkshire Post Leeds They will spend a further 7m on refurbishing the New Connaught which will be renamed The Grand Connaught Rooms as they seek to attract more high end customers to stay overnight at both properties and use their conference facilities De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms De Vere 16 May 2016 Retrieved 7 July 2020 External sites EditOfficial website 51 30 56 N 0 07 14 W 51 5156 N 0 1205 W 51 5156 0 1205 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Freemasons 27 Tavern amp oldid 1166112159 Connaught Rooms, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
