baring lodge No.2602 History

In the early 1890’s there were no regular Masonic Lodges meeting in the Cromer or Sheringham areas. Members of Union Lodge No 52 (this historic lodge still meets in Norwich) proposed the formation of a lodge to be held in Cromer to meet the needs of the area. Baring Lodge was duly consecrated on March 16th 1896.

The consecration was held at Tucker’s Hotel in Cromer, and performed by the Grand Secretary assisted by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and other dignitaries. W Bro. Robert Fenner was installed as Baring’s first Master. Around 80 masons were present; 15 of the then 17 Norfolk lodges were represented and the evening concluded with a banquet at the Hotel de Paris.

The members came from many professions or trades, although it must be said that the retail trade – grocers, ironmongers etc featured perhaps more than others. Over the last century the members continue to be of diverse professions.

The lodge continued to meet and dine at Tucker’s Hotel for a couple of years and then for 20 years moved around Cromer:

February 1898 to the Hotel Metropole

October 1904 to the Cliftonville Hotel

October 1916 back to the Hotel Metropole

February 1920 to the East Cliffe Hotel

February 1924 to the Cliffe House

March 1927 to the Royal Cromer Hotel

October 1928 to the Red Lion Hotel

As the Red Lion ‘lodge room’ was unable to hold the number of visitors, installation meetings were held at the Hotel Metropole, dining at the Red Lion and latterly meeting at the Red Lion and dining at the Cliftonville. 

The Red Lion then remained the meeting place until the move to our current home at the Masonic Centre in Sheringham, which took place in February 1986 

The 50th anniversary was celebrated at the 1945 installation meeting in the Red Lion with Bro. H. Park taking the master’s chair. After the ‘war-time’ meal, the Tyler, Bro. W. Smith was presented with a cheque. At that time he was the only remaining member of the original 1896 Lodge. The evening concluded with a concert.

1996 saw the centenary of Baring’s consecration and a special Centenary Meeting was held at the Centre on the anniversary, 16th March and was followed with a celebration dinner at the Northrepps Cottage.

The minutes of the meetings until recent times are hand written in bespoke minute books and we are fortunate that all except one are extant and in the lodge’s possession.

The lodge name ‘Baring’ is derived from the family name of Lord Cromer and it is his family coat of arms which is still used on Baring Lodge’s banner. 

During the two world wars, Baring Lodge lost members and sons of members who were serving King and Country. A poignant reminder is the Grand Lodge Certificate still waiting to be presented to one of our members lost in the 1914-18 conflict.

The minutes and other surviving paperwork of the lodge, gives little idea of the differences in life in 1896 compared to today. The visitors to the lodge came from around the Province and even from beyond - just as today: but how did they get to Cromer? Train, horse and trap or did they stay over for the night? However, reading the minutes for a hundred years ago, shows that the meeting was just the same as one is today.