A History of Craft Freemasonry in Herefordshire 1727-2000 Alwyn D. Williams. Published by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Herefordshire. 11 St James’ Close, Bartestree, Hereford HR1 4AY. 119 pages. Hardback £10.50 + £1.50 p&p; Softback £8 + £1.50 p&p.

Herefordshire may be the smallest Masonic Province in England, but it has a very big history. For instance, a Lodge was formed in 1742 that met at the Three Horseshoes Inn in Leominster. While that Lodge no longer exists, the inn is still a meeting point for local Freemasons.
    Given the move towards daylight Lodges today, it is interesting that in 1800 it was resolved by local Masons to hold meetings on or before “the full of the moon” to aid Ludlow members who had to travel either on foot or by horse.
    The area was remote in the early years, and it was not unusual for Lodges to meet only twice a year due to the difficulty of travel, particularly in the winter months.
    There have been some distinguished Provincial Grand Masters, notably Charles, 11th Duke of Norfolk, who was PGM from 1789 to 1790, and Thomas Dunckerley, the natural son of King George II, who led Herefordshire’s Freemasons from 1790 to 1795.
    As Brian Lambert, Provincial Grand Master for Herefordshire, puts it in his foreward to the book: “It is clear that in writing this History of Freemasonry Brother Williams has created a historical record of the Province the like of which has not been seen before.”
    Real progress on Freemasonry in Herefordshire was made when Thomas Dunckerley was appointed Provincial Grand Master in 1790. The first Provincial Grand Lodge was held under his chairmanship in 1791. And they did it in style in those days, as was recorded at the time:
    “Bro Dunckerley opened the Lodge at 10am assisted by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Bro Thomas Callendar, in the presence of His Grace The Duke of Norfolk and 150 other Masons. At 11am there was a procession to St Peter’s Church where a service of Thanksgiving was held. Afterwards they returned to the Bowling Green Inn to partake of dinner which was served at 2pm at a cost per head of 7s 6d.”
    Provincial Grand Lodge was warranted in 1791 and its first members were drawn mainly from Palladian Lodge 120, but Silurian Lodge 576 (erased 1805) and Royal Edward Lodge 533 (erased 1828) were represented.
    The history has a note on all 14 Lodges in the Province, along with many of their banners. As an insight into provincial masonry in England, W Bro Williams, a former Provincial Grand Secretary, has done an excellent job.
    For those with a curiosity about Freemasonry in general, and individual Lodges in particular, this little booklet is a fascinating read and excellent value for money.