Courtesy of Worshipful Bro. Brian Jones…
In January 1923, a legal Deed of Trust was signed by a number of brethren who were committed to providing – and preserving – a lodge building in Pontypool.
In their foresight, they purchased the Trosnant building and established a board of trustees. The Trust Deed charged those trustees (and their successors) with overseeing the effective and efficient operation of the building. To enable day-to-day running of the building a Board of Management was then created.
In 1923, the Kennard Lodge No 1258 was the sole lodge operating from Trosnant. Subsequently, 3 further lodges were welcomed to the Trosnant Masonic ‘family’, firstly with the addition of Kennard’s daughter lodge, Trevethin Lodge No 6008, followed by Llantarnam Lodge 7901, and Henllys Lodge No 8283. Pontypool Masonic Centre now is now home to a total of 12 lodges – 4 Craft, 2 Chapter, 3 Mark Mason, Royal Ark Mariners, Gwent Red Cross and Monmouthshire First Principals.
After 100 years of Freemasonry at the Pontypool Masonic Centre they have certainly achieved their aim!
However, Freemasonry in Pontypool goes back even further:
It is believed that a Masonic Lodge existed at Pontypool as early as 1752 when, at that time, the Provincial Grand Master (for the counties of Worcester, Gloucester, Monmouth and Hereford) was Sir Robert de Cornwall. However, more formal records exist of the Hiram Lodge No. 160, which had previously met at Norwich and Peterborough, being revived and meeting at the Red Lion Inn in Commercial Street. The Hiram Lodge continued to meet until about 1818 and eventually was erased in 1830. Despite the lodge records being lost, Kennard Lodge possesses an old Masonic Apron, Collar and Sash from the Hiram Lodge together with a jewel (known as the Hiram Jewel).
Following the demise of the Hiram Lodge there was no formal lodge of freemasonry in Pontypool until 1869 although there were a number of masons in the town who mostly belonged to Newport lodges. In 1868 they initiated the formation of a new lodge and, with the support of the M.W. Bro. John Rolls, Provincial Grand Master (PGM) of Monmouthshire and Bro. Col. Charles Lyne, Deputy Provincial Grand Master (DPGM), sought the “interest” of Bro. Henry Martin Kennard to become the benefactor of the Lodge.
The warrant of the Kennard Lodge was granted on 12th March 1869 and the consecration ceremony took place in the Clarence Hotel on 3rd June 1869. The following are extracts from the Pontypool Free Press of 12th June that year:
“The Provincial Grand Lodge of Monmouthshire met at Pontypool on Thursday week and the occasion was rendered additionally attractive and interesting by the fact that a new lodge, designated the Kennard Lodge No. 1258, was to be consecrated. The brethren congregated in large numbers from every lodge in this and the adjoining province, there being present no fewer than 120 when the Deputy Provincial Grand Master (Bro. Col. Charles Lyne) called the assemblage “to order as masons” at noon. (The duty had been passed to the DPGM due to the indisposition of the PGM). The lodge room which is set apart from the “Kennard” is the large room at the Clarence Hotel. It has been fitted up in a superior manner, the furniture being provided, we understand, at the expense of H.M. Kennard Esq. of Crumlin who has taken a deep interest in the new institution which bears his name. This gentleman has also presented the jewellery and working tools, all of which have been got up in beautiful style. Although the apartment (in the Clarence Hotel) is spacious, it was, as we have stated, well nigh crowded with a very distinguished assemblage of the craft”
The Free Press of Monmouthshire then went on to describe the consecration:
“The DPGM proceeded to open, consecrate and dedicate the Kennard Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons 1258. The ceremony was doubtless novel to many of the brethren present and could not fail to be deeply interesting to all……….from beginning to end it was a ceremony well calculated to impress and it is not too much to say that the consecration of the Kennard Lodge will have left a lasting impression on those who witnessed it”
Henry Martin Kennard
Kennard Lodge takes its name from its benefactor and patron – Henry Martin Kennard. He was born in London in 1833, the son of a merchant banker who formed a consortium which later formed the Blaenavon Coal and Iron Company which the Kennard’s owned for four generations. Robert William Kennard lived at Abergavenny in Brook House, which was later renamed Neville Court (now the hospital). The family also designed and built the Crumlin viaduct and at this time also built the Crumlin Hall (for many years afterwards, a technical college) which was to be the residence of Henry Martin Kennard.
He was initiated in freemasonry in the Lodge of Harmony Richmond No. 317 in 1855. Later, on the proposition of Col. Charles Lyne, the became a joining member of Silurian Lodge No. 417 where he remained as a member until his death in 1911. At the consecration of Kennard Lodge he was actually the Senior Warden and was installed as master the following year. In 1902 he became the Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Monmouthshire. He was also Justice of the Peace for the County of Monmouth, Deputy Lieutenant of the Counties of Glamorgan and Monmouth and High Sheriff of Monmouthshire in 1863.
H. M. Kennard was married to Katherine Anne Thomas and they had one son.
A painting of Kennard Lodge’s benefactor, which he presented to the lodge in 1901, is displayed on the North wall of the lodge temple.
Lodge Premises
After the consecration of the lodge, meetings continued in the upper room at the Clarence Hotel for a further two years. A committee had meanwhile been formed to purchase a Masonic Hall but early funding had proved difficult. Eventually however, the committee found twenty members who were willing to shares in another premises in High Street (previously an Industrial Store)
Although consideration had been given in 1874 for a new purpose built building for Kennard Lodge, it was 1878 that W. Bro. W. H. Haskins, the newly installed master, stated his intention to build a new masonic hall in George Street which would have its entrance from the newly constructed Osborne Road. As a result of this the premises in High Street were sold by public auction for £815 which allowed the Trustees to repay the shareholders what was owed to them. The first meeting in the new premises took place in March 1879 although it seems that no dedication ceremony was held. This new hall, which was linked to Club Chambers was, in the original plan, to have had a staircase for the sole use of the brethren but it appears that this was never built – as such the brethren had to access the hall via an external wooden balcony which was seen as a “veritable death trap in case of fire”. The fire risk was discussed many years later in 1913 but the brethren consoled themselves with the fact that the Lodge organist was also the Captain of Pontypool Fire Brigade and he would therefore see to their safety! The lodge building can still be identified by the masonic symbols high up on the wall in George Street (opposite the old Woolworths building and next to the bank).
Due to the immanent expired of the lease and the County Council objections to occupancy of the building (it was still lit by gas and heated by open fire) it was decided in 1923 to purchase the premises which are the current Pontypool Masonic Centre in Trosnant, which were then owned by the Salvation Army, at a cost (including furnishings) of £1,150. The deed describes “all that piece or parcel of land situated at Trosnant, Pontypool together with the Chapel and Meeting – House and premises (excluding the burial ground) as then used by the Salvation Army and formerly know as Zion Chapel for the general purposes of Kennard Lodge No. 1258”.
Fifteen Hundred Lodge Meetings
The minutes and records of Kennard Lodge show a continuity of meetings from its early history right through to the present day, showing a consistent strength of freemasonry in the Pontypool community.
Meetings have been held on Tuesday evenings since 1895, before which they were held on Mondays. Even during the war years the meetings continued uninterrupted – between 1914 and 1918 two members were wounded whilst on active serviced and the Lodge continued to provide donations to the war effort namely to the Prince of Wales Fund, the Princess Mary’s Soldiers and Sailors Christmas Fund and the Belgium Relief Fund. Twenty brethren were initiated into freemasonry during that period – all of whom, not surprisingly, were over 30 years of age. The Second World War also put few constraints on the lodge apart from food rationing which restricted the banqueting arrangements – indeed, it was during this period that Kennard’s sister lodge of Trevethin was formed.
Today, despite the sometimes mixed views about Freemasonry in general, Kennard Lodge No 1258 remains as popular as ever.