A VERY BRIEF GUIDE TO

ASHDAY LEA MASONIC HALL

BURY DISTRICT IN THE PROVINCE OF EAST LANCASHIRE

Ashday Lea is a beautiful masonic hall on the edge of Rawtenstall, set off the main road with its own lawn and garden area. Dating back to

1864 the house and its associated gardens were purchased by the

Rossendale Masonic Association in 1928. It is now the home of six Craft

Lodges, two Royal Arch Chapters and various side degrees. It is also the

seat of the Secretariat for East Lancashire Provincial Grand Lodge.

Ashday Lea is steeped in masonic history with many historic articles on display. The building has an extensive car park within the gardens with space enough for a minimum of 50 cars and more if need be. The first time I visited Ashday Lea was for a Royal Arch Chapter Joint

Convocation. So lovely was the building that it inspired me to join a side

degree which meets there, as such I have the pleasure of regularly

attending the building.

The hall is used for many other functions beyond masonry, such as

weddings, dinner parties, community meetings. The staff are very

adaptable and have over 30 years experience in the hospitality industry.

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The first few metres as you approach the hall give an indication of the beauty of the hall and grounds ahead of you.

A twisting, private single track lane winds up a steep hill toward Ashday Lea.

This road takes you past the building.

Where you are instantly struck by the design of the building and its lawns.

As you can see, the car park is spacious with enough room for any function which may be held within.

The hall has disabled access. This elevation shows the windows to the dining room on the ground floor above which is the Derby Room.

Some of the original features remain in the grounds and whilst they are no longer in working order they add to the appeal of the hall.

Once inside Ashday Lea you are greeted by the fully licensed bar. A cloakroom to the right with the dining room to the left. The ground floor also accommodates the Secretariat of the Provincial Grand Lodge of East Lancashire.

The Hall Association are intending to add a ground floor extension which will open up the bar area, lounge area as well as other benefits to the hall.

This staircase to the left of the bar area takes you to the first floor.

Once you move upstairs to the first floor just look over the banister to see this unusual but clever feature. The glass roof over the bar itself.

In the robing room are these Royal Arch Standards, They were presented by Fidelity Chapter No. 274 in c1835.

As you move beyond the Robing Room you enter the Ante

room. This dedication was commissioned by Hardman

Lodge No. 1948 to honour the memory of Henry Carter and James Pinnington both of whom were killed in World War One. Hardman Lodge No. 1948 was consecrated in 1882 meeting mainly at the Queens Arms Hotel in Rawtenstall. The lodge was pivotal in the purchasing and conversion of Ashday Lea for Rossendale Masonry. Sadly Hardman Lodge handed in their warrant in 2006.

This tablet, hangs next to the Hardman dedication. It was erected by members of Hospitality Lodge No.1697 in the memory of Pilot Officer R. M. Disley who was killed during world war two.

From the Ante room you can enter the Conference Room used by delegations as a robing room; some side degrees use this room as an additional opening room. The room has plenty of light and is a great room in which to hold business meetings.

This plain white door is the entrance to the Derby Room, Ashday Lea’s main Lodge Room. The door serves to hide the amazing room within.

The Derby Room’s simple and discrete door knock.

The inside of the door is more elaborate. The door knock on the right fascinating.

This is the view of the Derby Room as you first enter.

The Master's Pedestal.

The Senior Warden's Pedestal.

The Junior Warden's Pedestal.

The Lodge Room has excellent lighting which can be set to various combinations.

Fairly abstract but showing the Derby Rooms regular use as a Royal Arch Chapter room.

If you were to hunt for the back staircase and went to the second floor you would be forgiven for thinking, at a glance that it is used only for storage but a little nosing around reveals this amazing room. A second, much smaller Lodge Room. Used mainly as a rehearsal room but occasionally by some side degrees the room, at first appears not at all inspirational. But spend some time looking around and you will soon see that the room furniture is just amazing. The carving on the three principal officers chairs and pedestals are exquisite. They are truly elegant.

The Master's Pedestal.

The Senior Warden's Pedestal

The Junior Warden's Pedestal.

A sneaky peak into the Provincial Grand Masters Office and the Provincial Grand Secretaries Office.

The six lodges who regularly meet at Ashday Lea are; Tranquility with Hospitality No. 274 meet on the 1st Monday, holding their installation in December.

Duke of Lancaster No. 4207 meet on the 1st Wednesday, holding their installation in October (January is a lunchtime meeting).

Cribden No. 7285 meet on the 2nd Tuesday holding their installation in October.

Grants No. 8825 meet on 3rd Monday holding their installation in May.

Constancy No. 4767 meet on the 4th Thursday holding their installation in March.

Valley Lodge of Inst Masters No. 9396 on the 3rd Tuesday of August, the 1st Monday of December and the 2nd Wednesday of May holding their installation in August.

Two Chapters hold regular meetings at Ashday Lea;

Fidelity No. 274 meet on the 3rd Tuesday of January, February, April and October.

Unitas Fratrum No. 7958 a lunchtime chapter meet on the 3rd Friday of January, March, May and October.

Rawtenstall - Masonic Hall, Ashday Lea, Rawtenstall, BB4 6QX. 01706 214438