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Somerset Lodges
Portcullis Lodge No. 2038
warranted 1884
Regular meetings: the second Thursday at 18.30hrs Jan, Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Dec.
Installation meeting: the second Thursday at 17.00hrs Feb.
Contact the Lodge Secretary:
Paul Audemars
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Meeting at
St Mary's Chapel
The Hill
Langport
TA10 9QF
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The minutes of Nyanza Lodge No.1197 in
Ilminster record that on 22nd May 1883, that Lodge was asked to support an
application for the formation of a new Lodge to meet at Langport. This was given
unanimously. We also know that the Lodge of Unanimity and Sincerity No.261 in
Taunton also helped greatly in the formation of Portcullis Lodge.
A Warrant for the formation of Portcullis Lodge No.2038 was granted on 14th
March 1884 and the consecration ceremony took place on Tuesday 24th June 1884 at
12.30 pm at the Town Hall, Langport. Considering the difficulties of transport
in those days, either by railway or by horse on dirt roads, the remarkable
number of 115 were present. This included 73 Brethren from 14 different Lodges
in Somerset, plus 35 brethren from neighbouring Provinces.
The Lodge closed at
3.30pm and the Brethren dined at The Langport Arms Hotel at 3s/6d (17.5p) per
head each. The Proprietor of the Langport Arms Hotel was Bro. Geoff Barling, a
founder member of Portcullis Lodge and a member of Nyanza Lodge. He remained at
The Langport Arms until the 1920s. At that time Somerton Brewery was selling
ales at from 10d(4p) to 1s/8d (8p) per gallon. The average wage at that time was
something like £1 per week.
The first meeting of the Lodge at the Lodge Room, Langport Arms Hotel was held
on 10th July 1884 and by special dispensation four joining members were proposed
and immediately elected as members of the Lodge. A Candidate for initiation was
also proposed. At the end of 1884 there were 14 members of the Lodge, which
gradually increased so that by 1891 there were 24 members.
The Lodge continued to meet at The Langport Arms Hotel until Thursday 8th
October 1891 and the first meeting at St Mary’s Chapel, better known as the
Hanging Chapel was held the following month on Thursday 12th November 1891.
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