The origin of Horsford Lodge can be traced back to an idea in the mind of W. Bro. Vincent Stanley Walker P.P.G.D.

W. Bro. Walker had been Worshipful Master of Coronation Lodge No. 2922 in 1911 & 1914 when he moved from Leeds to live in Horsforth which was a small Urban District and properly regarded and referred to as “The village”. By 1931 W. Bro. Walker was determined to establish the feasibility of a new local lodge in a district much enlarged since the First World War.

W. Bro. Walker expressed his ideas to W. Bro. Edward Arnold Braithwaite, a member of a much respected Horsforth family and master of Coronation Lodge in 1929, who found these ideas readily acceptable.

It was also found a large house in Featherbank Lane, known as “Lower Bank House” had been acquired by a Mr. Cooper Briggs, a local builder and developer, and that the West Wing could be made available and, with alterations, would make an attractive small Masonic Hall.

On 21 November 1931 the two fore mentioned Worshipful Brethren called a meeting with W. Bro. G. F .Newton & W. Bro. E. Tainton when it was decided to compile & invite a list of suitable founders to a meeting on 5 December 1931.

It was at the meeting on 5 December the decision to form a Lodge was taken. A 21 year lease was taken on the premises at Featherbank Lane at an annual rental of £65 for 7 years and £70 thereafter with Mr. Briggs agreeing to carry out the alterations. The name of the Lodge was agreed as “HORSFORD” this being the name of the village in the Domesday Book and related to the old ford across the River Aire.

W. Bro. E. A. Braithwaite was unanimously elected to be the first Worshipful Master. On 22 January 1932 Coronation Lodge agreed to the petition for a Warrant with the Master & Wardens signing the same, and on 10 February 1932 it was announced the Warrant had been granted & that the Lodge would be No. 5339 with the Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Yorkshire (West Riding) R. W. Bro. The Earl of Harewood presiding at the consecration. The Provincial Grand Master fixed Thursday 31 March 1932 as the date of consecration on which memorable day Horsford Lodge came into being. The Lodge settled into a normal routine which was both happy and fraternal & over the succeeding years the Lodge initiated a number of candidates, Mr. E. C. Briggs, the owner of the premises, being one of them.

In 1935 the first of many Provincial Honours came to the Lodge when W. Bro. E. A. Braithwaite was appointed Provincial Assistant G. D. of C.

The outbreak of The Second World War in 1939 saw several of the Brethren depart on War Service. Normality returned to the Lodge when in 1946 The Ladies Evening & Children’s Party were resumed.

The years rolled by without any noticeable incident until October 1957, when following the construction of the Ring Road known as Broadway and as the adjoining premises had been renamed Broadway Hall, it was agreed to change the address to “ The Masonic Hall, Broadway, Horsforth.”

In July 1964 with the rent having risen to £450 per annum and with uncertain security of tenure we agreed to a new lease until July 1967. It was at this stage the three Otley Lodges (Harewood, Royal Wharfedale & Chevin) moved from their old premises in Boroughgate to Westbourne House and offered to take us in on fair and equal terms. It was agreed to accept this offer, however at the same time the whole of Broadway Hall was put on the market and transpired the purchaser would use the greater part for offices but was willing to make the Masonic Hall available by purchase to the Lodge. The Otley Lodges were informed we preferred to remain at Horsforth and the Masonic Hall was subsequently purchased for the sum of £7500 in May 1966.

The Lodge were paid a great honour in 1973 when W. Bro. Richard Gamble walker, son of W. Bro. Vincent Stanley Walker, was appointed assistant Provincial Grand Master by R. W. Bro. Fred Crosland.

In 1975 the Provincial Grand Master R. W. Bro. Fred Crosland attended the Lodge at the installation of W. Bro. A. M. Jones, a brother whose Masonic career even until this day would continue to prosper and advance.

In the early 1980’s the Lodge buildings required a good deal of refurbishing, in particular the Dinning Room & Kitchen, and faced with rising costs the brethren literally “ took off their coats” and with much hard work and effort, modernised and improved the facilities. In 1982, our neighbours Bartlett (Northern Ltd), looking for room for expansion made us an attractive and tempting offer to persuade us to remove. The brethren, after all the happy years spent in the premises were not interested in moving and declined the offer.

The succeeding years saw the Lodge progress and also see further honours by way of the industries and efforts of many of the brethren both for the lodge in particular and Freemasonry in general.

W. Bro. Guy Crossland Barrett O.B.E.  after serving as a member of the Charity Committee of Yorkshire West Riding for a period of 10 years was elected to the position of Chairman of the said committee on 28 March 1987, a position he held for 2 years, he also received Grand Lodge Honours when he was appointed Acting Junior Grand Deacon.

In 1995, time eventually caught up on Horsford’s Masonic Hall. The premises were once more in need of major remedial works, the Kitchen in particular no longer being suitable for its intended purpose. Once again our adjoining neighbours made us an offer to remove so as to allow them to expand. On this occasion the brethren realised, with a great deal of sadness but also much hope for the future, that it would be most expedient to accept the generous offer made to us.

On vacating Broadway Hall the brethren agreed to use part of the proceeds to purchase a share in Westbourne House at Otley, where we almost moved to in 1966.

The move to Otley necessitated a change of regular meeting night from our traditional first Thursday to the first Tuesday in the month. There are however some traditions we have carried on, to this day the wearing of Dinner jackets at regular Lodge meetings and Evening Tails by the Worshipful Master and the Installing Master at installation meeting continues.

The move to Otley has proved very successful where we enjoy Happy Fraternal Relationships with the other Otley Lodges particularly Harewood No. 5667 with whom we share Tuesday evenings.

In 1998 the Lodge were again honoured by the attendance of the Provincial Grand Master, on this occasion it was R. W. Bro. J. Trevor Broadley who attended the installation of W. Bro. Alex Frederic Wilson.

In 2002 the Lodge after much hard work and effort on behalf of the brethren became a Patron of the Grand Charity.

Horsford Lodge although a small and comparatively young Lodge continue to journey forward with the tenents and principles of Freemasonry being transmitted pure and unimpaired from generation to generation.

W.Bro R. G. Walker’s history of Horsford Lodge 1932-1982 condensed and next 21 years history appended for inclusion in the publication to celebrate 250 years of Freemasonry in Leeds by W.Bro. Ian F. Cotton, Secretary 12 August 2003.