History

Whilst masonry in Scarborough itself cannot lay claim to having existed from time immemorial, undoubtedly it is of ancient origin.  Legend has it that it was practiced here as far back as 1625: other indications point to the existence of certain lodges in or around 1690, but unfortunately, we lack definite information of this.

The first authentic record is contained in that famous document “The Scarborough Manuscript Roll of the Old Constitutions of Masonry” known as the "Scarborough Masonic Roll”, which records a “A private lodge was held in Scarborough in the County of York the tenth day of July 1705”.  The Master of the lodge was William Thompson, who was Member of Parliament for the Borough at that time.  The Scarborough Manuscript Roll of the Old Constitutions of Masonry is now in the custody of the Grand Lodge of Canada.  Some years ago 100 facsimile copies were produced for Lodge Quatuor Coronati No. 2070 London.  One copy, no. 46, being given to the Old Globe Lodge No. 200.T

In 1723, the Grand Lodge of All England was advised that a body of freemasons were meeting regularly in Scarborough at the Three Tuns in the market square, where the present Market Hall now stands, without a warrant from Grand Lodge.  To regularize the position Grand Lodge issued them with a warrant.  This lodge is given as “No. 59 at the sign of the Three Tuns, Scarborough meeting on the first Wednesday of every month and was constituted 27 August 1729 under the Constitution of the premier Grand Lodge often called the Grand Lodge of the Moderns.  In 1735 the Master of the Lodge was William Thompson, son of the William Thompson of the 1705 lodge, perhaps suggesting that the Scarsborg or Three Tuns Lodge was a continuation of the 1705 lodge.  William Thompson Junior succeeded his father as M.P. for the Borough a position he held from 1708 to 1718.  In 1715 he was appointed Governor of Scarborough Castle, dying in 1744.

From about 1738, this lodge was held in “Viponts Long Room” facing the Staith, which was kept by Geo Chapman.  In 1740 it was again held at the “Three Tuns”.  This is presumed to have been the Three Tuns in Stockdale Street (now called Globe Street), which was kept by Betty Chatan – familiarly, called Cheat’em.  This lodge number was altered to No.52 and was erased from the list of lodges held under the “Moderns Grand Lodge” on 29 November 1754.  On the 19 August 1762 a lodge was constituted under the York Grand Lodge of England and held at the “Turks Head” situated in the old Market Square.  The last record of this lodge is stated to have been 30 August 1768.  The Turks Head used as its Warrant the 1693 Masonic Roll and on cessation of the Lodges activities, the Tyler took this roll to Wetherby where it was used as a Warrant to found the Alfred Lodge No.434 in 1781.  This lodge was erased in 1797.  The records of this lodge from 27 May 1762 to 30 August 1763 are preserved at York.

History continued ..... ( PDF File )