Provincial Grand Lodge of Dorset
 
Welcome to the official website of Dorset Freemasonry
 
he purpose of this web-site is to provide a broad overview of Freemasonry in Dorset.
 
  • who we are
  • where we are
  • what we stand for
  • what we do
  • our beliefs
  • what we expect from our members
  • our history
  • details and location of our Lodges
  • our museum
  • our charity programme
  • links to other masonic authorities
  • your questions answered
  Richard Merritt - Provincial Grand Master for Dorset
 

and most importantly:-

  • how to make contact with us should you require more information or assistance

The existence of Freemasonry in our County is first recorded as far back as 1736 with the creation of the Three Crowns Lodge No 145 at Weymouth. Other Lodges appeared over time and a Masonic Province of Dorset was eventually established in 1780.

 
Sheild  

Since that era Dorset Freemasonry has flourished continuously throughout the County and now comprises 49 Lodges meeting at 18 centres from Shaftesbury & Sherborne in the north to Swanage & Portland in the south and from Branksome & Kinson in the east to Bridport & Lyme Regis in the west.

Dorset is one of 47 administrative groupings of Lodges established as Provinces throughout the length and breadth of England and Wales under the authority of the United Grand Lodge of England.

Our membership of some 3000 men from all ethnic, cultural and social backgrounds, regularly meets in harmony and friendship.

 

Members share a common bond from the unique experience of being “made Masons” and a wish to make their lives more fulfilling through their concern for the well-being of others. As Freemasons they are encouraged to observe moral and spiritual guidelines and to gain a greater knowledge and understanding of themselves as upright and respectable citizens.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to our web-site in the hope that you will find it both interesting and informative. You will, from our pages I hope, come to realise that we are a highly motivated group of like-minded individuals who care for all humankind and who believe in making themselves more available and valuable to the society in which they exist.

 
Richard Merritt
Provincial Grand Master for Dorset
 
 
 
The Lion and Lamb Inn Poole, original meeting place of the oldest Lodge in Dorset

From the old…
The Lion and the Lamb Inn in Poole was the original meeting place of the Lodge of Amity, the oldest Masonic Lodge in Dorset, warranted in 1765.
Read more about the history of Freemasonry in England.

 
Canford Jewel

…to the new
The youngest Lodge in Dorset is Canford Lodge, consecrated in 2001.
See a full list of Lodges in Dorset.

 
Portrait of Thomas Dunckerley the first Provincial Grand Master for Dorset (from 1777 to 1795)

From the first…
Thomas Dunckerley was the first Provincial Grand Master for Dorset (from 1777 to 1795). More information about Freemasonry.

 
Richard Merritt - Provincial Grand Master for Dorset

…to the sixteenth
R. W. Bro. Richard Merritt was installed as Provincial Grand Master in 2008. Provincial Grand Master’s page.

 
Charter Mark
 
 
We do not guarantee that websites accessed via links on this page are either Masonic in nature or have been approved or endorsed by the
United Grand Lodge of England. We specifically do not warrant that any other websites accessible from their pages are recognised by, or
have the approval of, the United Grand Lodge of England.
©Copyright 2009, 2010 Provincial Grand Lodge of Dorset.