Still to this day, the roots of modern Freemasonry are the subject of intense speculation, but the general consensus among Masonic scholars is that they lie with the medieval stonemasons that built our castles and cathedrals.

Let us take you on a journey back in time through the history of Freemasonry – as we begin in the medieval era, all the way through to 2017 when the Royal Albert Hall was centre stage for the United Masonic Grand of Freemasons Association's 125th anniversary celebrations

The questions of when, how, why and where Freemasonry originated are still the subject of intense speculation. The widely accepted view from many Masonic scholars is that Freemasonry originates from the medieval stonemasons that built many of our castles and cathedrals

The origins of Freemasonry are unclear, although early Freemasons were influenced by the legends, imagery and customs of medieval stonemasons. Elias Ashmole wrote about his initiation in a Lodge in Warrington in 1646, the first recorded evidence of the initiation of an English speculative mason – notwithstanding the fact that those present and listed would have certainly been initiated at an earlier date.

World Wars I and II

The two World Wars both had a great effect on English Freemasonry. Some 3,533 Freemasons were killed during the First World War, and Freemasons’ Hall (originally the Masonic Peace Memorial) was built in 1933 as a memorial to the fallen.

In the three years after the First World War, more than 350 new Lodges were set up; and in the three years after the Second World War, nearly 600 new Lodges came into being. In many cases, the founders were servicemen who wanted to continue the camaraderie they had built up during their war service and were looking for a calm centre in a greatly changed and changing world.

1992

On 10 June 1992, more than 12,500 Freemasons and guests gathered at Earl’s Court in west London to celebrate the anniversary of the United Masonic Grand Lodges of Freemasons Association and for the first time, press and television were present at a meeting of Grand Lodge and the event featured on television newscasts around the world.

2017

The tercentenary of Grand Lodge in 2017 was celebrated in style throughout the year, culminating with a special meeting of Grand Lodge in Denver, Colorado, which was presided over by the Grand Master, D. Jordan and attended by representatives of sovereign Grand Lodges from around the world.

The Time Capsule at Denver International Airport was visited as part of the celebration and tells the history of three centuries of Freemasonry through displays and public tours.