Lodge History

Mid Sussex Lodge was consecrated on Tuesday, the 22nd of September 1959 in the Sussex Masonic Temple, Queens Road, Brighton.

It consisted of Seventeen Founder Members and was set to meet at the Hayworthe Hotel, Haywards Heath on the third Thursday of September, November, January, March and May

The ceremony was conducted by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Worshipful Brother Arthur Jolly P.G.D and the installation of the first Master Designate and his Principal Officers was conducted by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Worshipful Brother A.H.Edwards P.G.D.

The joining fee in 1959 was £5 5s 0d and the annual subscription was also £5 5s 0d which included dining and wine for each brother at the festive board

On 19th January 1967 the Lodge moved to the Ockley Lodge Hotel in Ockley Lane in Hassocks which became home for around 18 months.

The next chapter of the lodge was a move to “Elphinsward” on 19th September 1968.This was a large building owned by the Church of England in Haywards Heath. That was eventually demolished to make way for the construction of the police station and magistrates court. There were no bar facilities at Elphinsward so the three publicans who were members of the lodge at that time took it in turns to bring bottles to meetings.

It was on 15th January 1970 when the next move took place to the Stroods Motel on the old A23 at Sayers Common.This was the meeting place for a number of other local lodges, but it became impractical when the venue changed into “Cinderellas” night club. (Rapping the ritual was tried but frowned on by UGLE, but the BLING went down well!)

 In 1974 a Masonic Hall Company was formed with members of local Lodges buying shares and collectively purchasing Ockley Lodge in Hassocks. Six Craft Lodges met at Ockley Lodge along with one Mark Lodge, one Royal Ark Mariners Lodge and one Royal Arch Chapter.

When the company fell into financial difficulties in 1983 and closed Ockley Lodge, many of the other Lodges moved to Uckfield and Peacehaven but Mid Sussex Lodge moved to the Highley Manor Hotel on the Crawley Road, Balcombe for about four years until 1987. Then it was time for another change!

On the 15th January 1987 Mid Sussex Lodge held its first meeting at the Birch Hotel, Lewes Road, Haywards Heath where it remained for two years until it was sold in 1989

This time the Lodge upped sticks and moved back to the Highley Manor Hotel on Crawley Lane, Balcombe where we remained for many years until the hotel closed for refurbishment and guess what? Yep we moved again!

This was the last move to date and it was back to the Birch Hotel where we are very happy

Will this be our last move? Who knows, but keep visiting this page and watch this space to find out