Kent Museum of Freemasonry

Over het museum

Freemasonry has been present in Canterbury since 1730, when the city's first lodge met at the Red Lion Tavern. In 1878 the Canterbury lodges bought premises near the Westgate Towers and in 1880 built a Masonic temple in the garden. Over the years the lodges collected many Masonic objects and papers, and as the collection grew, space became a problem.

The idea of a Kent library and museum came from Colonel Fiennes Cornwallis, later the first Lord Cornwallis, who was Provincial Grand Master and had the museum placed in Canterbury. In 1925 the garden of 34 St Peter's Place was bought for it, and a building designed by the architect F. G. Haywood was completed in 1932. When the old Grand Library and Museum in Great Queen Street in London was demolished, Cornwallis obtained its stained glass windows, internal doors and most of its showcases for Canterbury. The Kent Library and Museum of Freemasonry was opened on 19 April 1933.

The collection now includes more than 3,000 pieces, including Masonic paintings, literature, regalia, glassware and ceramics. After an 18-month redevelopment the museum reopened on 14 September 2012 with a new entrance from St Peter's Place, a larger library space and audio-visual displays that give an overview of Freemasonry in Kent. It is run by the Kent Masonic Museum and Library Trust, largely by volunteers.

Hoogtepunten

• Collection of more than 3,000 Masonic objects
• Regalia from all Masonic orders through the ages
• Masonic paintings, glassware and ceramics
• Audio-visual displays on Freemasonry in Kent
• Masonic library
• Stained glass and showcases from the former Grand Library in London

Vaste collectie

• Masonic collection – Display of Masonic regalia, books, paintings, glassware and ceramics covering all Masonic orders, with audio-visual displays on the history of Freemasonry in Kent.

Opgericht

1933

Beheerder

Kent Masonic Museum and Library Trust

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

De toegang is gratis.

Admission is free; donations are gratefully received. Friends of the museum pay 5 pounds a month.

Toegankelijkheid

• Rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
• Hulphonden welkom: geen informatie
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The museum states that there is wheelchair access throughout.

Kinderen & gezin

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The museum is close to the Westgate Towers and about a five-minute walk from Canterbury Cathedral.

Service & horeca

• Café: niet aanwezig
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig

There is no food or drink at the museum, but there are many places nearby.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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