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The first record of St. Sales Convent, our
present Lodge premises, being used as a Masonic Meeting place, was when in 1835
the Provincial Grand Lodge of Somerset met in Shepton Mallet. The normal Lodge
meeting room was to small to accommodate them, so they met in a larger room at
the former St. Sales Convent, which many years later became our regular meeting
place. The property, St. Sales House has at various times been known also as,
The Convent and The Cloisters. Originally developed as a mill complex, one of
many which had grown up during the prosperity of the town at the end of the 18th
century. Its arrangement was typical, consisting of a self-contained compound,
containing mill buildings, workers dwellings and owner's mansion.
Industrial unrest resulted in its closure, and
deterioration of the buildings began. The main building, a three-story house, at
the end of the 'U' shaped block, had been built in the early 18th century by a
former rector of the parish. The west wing is some 100-ft. long, and was one of
the former mill buildings. The Roman Catholic ‘Order of Visitation’, who
purchased the property in 1810, had extensively altered the east wing that had
originally consisted of cottages and shops. The sisters were of a 'closed'
order; having been founded in 1617 by Francois de Sales, whence the house
derived its name. They moved into the premises most of which required
alterations to make them suitable for the purposes of the convent. These
alterations included the building of a chapel and also walls to enclose the
property; these were latterly not only to keep out intruders but also to prevent
the escape of the less dedicated residents!
A stream passes under the building, which in 1812 overflowed and
caused considerable damage to the furnishings; the general dampness also had a
serious effect on the health of the sisters. Further flooding in later years
took place, finally another serious flooding in 1829 caused the nuns to seek
premises in another town. The source of the stream was a small village on the
Mendip Hills, Doulting, and in King Alfred's time was known as the Doulting
water. Subsequently the Ordnance Survey christened it the river Sheppey, as it
is today. After the nuns had left, the property came into the ownership of the
Carey family, who also owned adjoining property, and part was used for a time as
a cheese store.
When the Lodge first moved into St. Sales House in 1912, they
occupied a part only of the premises - the old chapel and small ante-room, built
by the nuns about 100 years earlier, and for this accommodation the brethren
paid Mr. Carey a rent of £10 per year. It was in this part of the buildings that
Provincial Grand Lodge had met in 1835. A new lease was agreed in 1933, for the
Lodge room and anteroom, transferring the liability for internal repairs to the
brethren, whilst the owner, Mr. J. Carey, remained responsible for the exterior
main walls and roof. The rent, however, remained the same. Repairs and
decorations of the Lodge room were then carried out; this being the first time
that anything had been done since the chapel had been taken over as a lodge
room, some 21 years earlier. The brethren continued to rent this part of the
premises until 1947 when they purchased the whole property. The move to the
convent in 1912 enabled the brethren to enjoy the facilities of their o wn bar;
and to register as a club, in March 1915. This club is still in existence and
enjoyed today.
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During the 1939-1945 war, the premises, apart from the Lodge
accommodation, were requisitioned and occupied first by the British and later by
the American troops. The main house was subsequently turned into flats by the
local authority. This was de-requisitioned in 1957 and returned to the owners,
by then the Highfield Benevolent Trust. This Trust was created by the brethren
and registered as a charity in 1940, taking its name from the name of the
original property Highfield House, purchased as a Masonic Hall by them, but not
used at that time. This was compulsory purchased and taken over from by the
local council. It was as a result of the loss of this property that St. Sales
House was purchased.
As with all old buildings the condition of the property was by
the early 1950's already giving cause for concern, and in the summer of 1956,
repairs to the roof were carried out, and by 1959 further work to the building
was necessary. A considerable amount of work was done to the interior of the
lodge room and anteroom, for which the Lodge was deeply indebted to W. Bro. R.V.
Showering, Bro. F. Showering and Bro. K. Showering, of ‘Babycham’ fame.
An entirely new floor has been constructed over the whole area of the lodge
room, new timber joists and new floorboards. The Temple, being the original
Chapel has a balcony from which the brethren can look down on the proceedings
below.
The new floor had been treated against dry rot and woodworm and
was well ventilated. It was raised about six or eight inches above its usual
level in order to obviate the step at the entrance door and the door leading to
the balcony. The Dais floor has been entirely reconstructed and is independent
of the main floor, which is complete beneath it, and was redesigned to form two
platform areas with shallow riser steps. The Master's platform and the pedestal
have been recessed further back than formerly and are adjustable in position.
Secretary and Treasurer each with a small table on either side, the whole
appearance has a more balanced effect at the East End of the Lodge Room. The
Wainscot Paneling was renovated as it now is.
The Freestone fire grate in the
south wall has been restored to something like its original splendor, being a
very pleasant feature. The decoration scheme is primarily designed to bring into
relief those truly Masonic emblems and characters which adorn our Lodge Room,
not only those permanent adornments but also those brought into the Lodge in the
form of regalia worn by our distinguished brethren. The original old Lodge
banner is now in a glass case, fixed to the wall above the SW’s position. Our
banner bears the coat of arms of The Grand Lodge of England and the letter of
sanction for its use, issued by Grand Lodge, is framed being next to it.
The design of the Lodge Room pillars was decided upon, and
constructed by a brother of the Lodge. The chapiters presented a problem and at
this stage, either by accident or design the project came to the knowledge of a
professional architect and member of the craft and he offered to sign the
chapiters and prepare working drawings. This was Bro. Kirby, Past Master of
Longleat Lodge, Warminster. These chapiters are unique in craft masonry and were
made from specially selected and seasoned sycamore given by W. Bro. Norman
James. They incorporate the sacred lotus flower of Egypt. The terrestrial and
celestial globes from the old pillars having been cleaned and fixed on top, the
network is thrown over. Until 1870 the Lodge only had the first Tracing Board,
which was in need of repair. Bro. Foxwell made the second and third Tracing
Boards, painted them, and those same Boards are still in use today, although now
hung on the North wall of the Lodge Room.
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A reference has already been made regarding the flooding which
was experienced in 1968, the Lodge suffered a similar problem when a summer
storm flooded the lodge room was to a depth of at least six inches. This caused
damage to the structure of the building and furniture, due as much to the mud
and slime left behind. It was found that the timber floor and joists in the bar,
area was now unsafe, they were removed and a concrete floor laid.
Time passed, further
deterioration of the property took place the trustees met to consider the best
solution, and investigated the possibility of selling the buildings. An
interested party was Solon Housing Association. The Secretary to the Trustees,
W. Bro. R.G. Walker, signed the contract on the 28th February 1980, the sale to
the Housing Association was completed on the 31st March 1980, much to the relief
of all the brethren.
Since then brethren of the Lodge can feel justly proud of
themselves, for in having embarked on a self-help scheme, they have converted
the first floor of the old convent building into a purpose built dining room.
This was opened in 1992 by Stanley HAF Hopkins, the Provincial Grand Master for
Somersetshire to commemorate the 200 year birthday of the Lodge, but
unfortunately no bi-centenary jewel has been was awarded by Grand Lodge. The
kitchen and bar area was also modernized at the same time.
In May of 1996 dry rot was discovered in the old chapel and
extensive work would be required to rectify the problem in the walls and on the
original oak roof timbers. W.Bro L.M. Smith, W.M at that time, decided an urgent
decision was called for, at a meeting of the Trustees, they recommended work to
commence. This would entail the cutting out of old wood, and under the
supervision of structural engineers; new oak end beams were bonded on and made
good. All this new work meant that some of the walls of the existing nun’s cells
had to be demolished, to allow access to the end beams. This work cost in the
region of £41,000, being raised by the Brethren and the help of the ‘Angel’
Lodge, a demonstration team, under the guidance of W.Bro Alastair M Craig
presenting 18th Century Ritual workings. Refurbishing work is continuing to be
done, on a ‘self-help basis, so as to maintain the viability of this old
building as a Masonic Hall, within Shepton Mallet.
As with many old buildings, further dry rot was discovered in the
summer of 2000. The dais previously spoken about had to be removed to eradicate
the infected area, along with some of the Wainscot Paneling; the Brethren have
raised the funding for this work. Following the discovery of this further
outbreak of ‘Dry-rot’, the brethren decided that the time for pouring good money
after bad into a building that consumed it at an alarming rate was over. The WM
at that time W.Bro Lenny Baker was instrumental in pushing forward the decision
reached by the trustees to sell the property. A quest now ensued to look for a
new location to hold our meetings. Several Lodges in the locality offered their
premises for our meetings, to whom we were grateful for that support.
Negotiations with various developers took time. Graham Watts, who
resides in North Wootton, a village just outside of Shepton Mallet, which is the
location of the ‘The Crossways Hotel’ and his local. During an evening at the
Crossways, Graham struck up a conversation with the then owner, who was a
freemason and as the hotel had a secure cellar area, which was not being
used, although being in need of decoration and refurbishment for use as a
meeting place, the initial seed to move to that venue was born.
The last meeting was held on the 15th May 2002, at the Old
Convent and Lodge premises in Draycott road. The Ceremony conducted was an
Installation and Paul Davis was Installed into the Chair. During the summer
recess the old building was finally sold and the new venue, the cellar at the
‘Crossways Hotel’ was secured for a rent from the owners. An enormous amount of
effort and work by several of the brethren, made the cellar into an extremely
fitting Lodge Room and it is indeed a credit to their hard work that by the
September of that year it was ready to receive the Lodge for their first
meeting. The Ceremony to take place in the new Lodge Room was the passing of
Andrew Snook, to the second degree. This was conducted by our newly Installed
Master. Paul Davis, on the 18th September 2002, the meeting was well attended by
many distinguished visitors, including Raymond Guthrie Assistant Provincial
Grand Master of Somerset.
The highlight to the first
Masonic year in our new premises was, on the 16th April 2003, the visit by David
L. Jenkins, Provincial Grand Master for Somerset, accompanied by the Provincial
team who conducted a Third Degree Ceremony. The Candidate, Andrew Snook was
raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason.
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