Freemasonry In Eccles And District
The Eccles and District Group of Lodges meet in two Masonic Halls, at Eccles and Swinton. Both districts are in the Metropolitan Borough of Salford. The eastern boundary immediately abuts the city of Salford which is in the neighbouring Masonic Province of East Lancashire and many Lodges show the influence of the happy mixing of traditions from both that Province and our own. The name of one of the Lodges meeting at Swinton Masonic Hall, Border Lodge, indicates the close affinity of the Group to our neighbouring Province.
Eccles Masonic Hall in Half Edge Lane, which was originally a private house built in 1846 called Elm Bank, and was used as a convalescent home during World War One, was purchased in 1921 by seven Eccles Lodges. It was adapted for use as a Masonic Hall. In 1953 a ballroom was added and in 1979 a new kitchen and dining room were constructed. It is now the home of twelve Lodges.
In 1964 a piece of land in Hospital Road, Swinton was purchased and Swinton Masonic Hall, named Charles Riley House, was built as a permanent home for the Swinton Masons. It was further extended in 1986 by the addition of a first floor containing a complete set of rooms for Masonic purposes, as well as a ballroom and lounge on the ground floor for social and charitable functions. There are now seven Lodges meeting there.
Eccles Masonic Hall already has the Salford Masonic Fellowship, Eccles Probus Club and a Line Dancing Class among its many activities, whilst Swinton Masonic Hall hosts indoor Bowls, Modern Dancing and, again, Line Dancing.
As well as supporting Provincial and National Masonic charities, charitable donations are regularly made to local charities. Recent gifts include contributions to renovations and repairs at Eccles and Worsley Parish Churches. In addition there have been donations to the Parkinson’s Disease Society, the British Diabetic Society, the British Red Cross, the local Army Cadet Force and a Community Centre.
In 1973, Ecclesholme, a retirement home of the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution, was built on land adjacent to Eccles Masonic Hall and since then there has been a close association between them both in fund raising for the friends of Ecclesholme and in providing accommodation for the annual Summer and Christmas Fayres.
