The first time I heard about Foundation Lodge No. 82 and its remarkable building in Cheltenham was in Israel, on one of the recent Holy Land masonic tours. Ray Pearson, a Past Master of the lodge, enthused of the beauty and uniqueness of the custom built hall, inviting me to visit on our return to England.
     As we approached the junction of Portland and Albion Streets in Cheltenham, the Masonic Hall came into view, its enormous façade proudly protruding to the edge of the Street. Arched entrances, only one of which is now in use, and the empty niches above them, are flanked by two large columns. At the top, masonic symbols are carved into the stone work. The architect, George Allen Underwood (1793-1829), a member of Foundation Lodge No. 82, was also the architect of the nearby Holy Trinity Church. From the first, a sense of serene peace and harmony could be felt in this astonishing building which is much as it was when the Brethren of the lodge occupied it for the first time on 5th November 1823.
     Inside, immediately to the left, is the dining room in the style of a Knights Templar encampment. Shields decorate the walls and the ceiling was, until recently, painted as a tent top. Templar emblems and symbols decorate every wall. The striking chandelier illuminates the original furniture still in use to this day. It was easy to visualise the enthusiastic Brethren of 175 years ago, sitting at these very same mahogany tables set in the form of a horseshoe, eating from the tureens and dishes of their custom-made tableware and drinking heartily from firing glasses, pounding the wooden tables during the ‘fire’ and denting every inch with the chop-marks so clearly visible now.
     Much of the dinner set and some of the original firing glasses survive to this day, housed in the museum in the rooms above us. The delicately decorated light blue dinner set consists of several tureens with their original covers, soup plates, dishes and other related china, all beautifully matching and manufactured by the Stoke-on-Trent potters, Job Meigh and Sons of Hanley. The set was purchased by the Lodge on their move to the new premises in 1823. At the same time a superb pair of glass goblets 200mm high, was presented as a gift by Henry Potter, whose name is engraved below the multitude of masonic emblems decorating the glass face.
     We made our way up the apt and original winding staircase, a blatant reminder of this being a custom built Masonic Hall, and entered the Temple which faced us as we reached the top. The décor, soft and soothing ambience of the old and original furniture, the masonic fireplace, the walls decorated with plaques and certificates and the overall cosiness of the Temple, radiates a spiritual calm. The plush cushioned Master’s chair under a large canopy is more of a throne than a seat. Heavily built, it rests on huge legs shaped into lion’s feet. It is headed by a stunning depiction of the All Seeing Eye, flanked by two columns and the whole decorated with wooden and gilt masonic imagery. It was brought into the temple, with the supporting Warden’s chairs, when the Royal Union Lodge, now No 246, moved into the premises in 1929. They replace the still extant chairs of Foundation Lodge.
     The gallery to the West is the seat of the original and restored eighteenth century ‘gentleman’s’ pipe-organ, presented to Foundation Lodge in 1832 and the origins of which remain a mystery. Nigel Greenwood, curator and librarian of the Cheltenham Masonic Museum, who had been accompanying us, is also the organist to several of the nine lodges and Orders meeting at the Hall and he gave us a tuneful demonstration of the organ’s quality.
     Nigel was appointed Curator of the Museum in 2007 by the Cheltenham Masonic Association Ltd, which now holds total responsibility for the Hall and its content. The Association was formed in 1978, and, together with three senior Lodges, namely Royal Union Lodge No. 301, Perseverance Lodge No. 4554 and, of course, Foundation Lodge No. 82, are the present Trustees of the building. The members of Foundation Lodge were the original financiers and instigators for the construction of the Hall for their own use, being the only Lodge in Cheltenham at the time. This old and respected Lodge was constituted in London, March 1753, as No. 226 and derived its name from the fact that its stonemason members were involved in the building of the first Freemasons’ Hall in Great Queen Street. In 1807 the Lodge moved to Abingdon and then to Cheltenham in 1817.
     Nigel is very proud to be Curator and Librarian of the small but impressive museum. It developed almost naturally as the preserver of the artefacts of Foundation Lodge, gradually acquiring additional books and objects through donations and occasional purchases. The select library of some two hundred books is available to interested Brethren and has all the standard reference works. The earliest volume on display is the important and rare first edition of William Preston’s (1742-1818) Illustrations of Masonry first published in 1772 with the last edition coming out as late as 1861. This book has given us today’s familiar standard ritual lectures.
     An outstanding item in the library is a rare and beautifully bound manuscript testimonial, unique by its nature, dedicated to Charles Robert Colville, MP and Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Derbyshire, dated September 25th 1866. The wood binding of both the cover and the back is intricately carved with a leaf pattern and the Colville family arms are centrally placed, headed by the square and compass. An oval brass band has the dedication engraved on it. The illuminated text inside is exquisite. Page after page of text highlighted in gold with masonic decorations along the wide edges, makes this the highest quality testimonial one could hope to encounter. The artist was the well known Derby wood carver and author, William Bemrose Jnr (1831-1901). Interestingly, a second dedication shows the book to have been re-presented to Cyril Hollinshead, Provincial Grand Master of Gloucestershire, on 25th May 1978. It is now preserved for posterity in the safe hands of the Cheltenham Masonic Library and Museum.
     Nigel now looks forward to the arrival of recently ordered cabinets which will allow a more focused display of the many objects dispersed around the museum. Meanwhile a visit to this splendid Hall is highly recommended.

For Saturday visits contact Nigel Greenwood: nigelgreenwood@hotmail.com.
Weekday visits, contact Hall Steward John Jagger: info@foundationlodge82.co.uk.