In 1927, 22 Freemasons, centred around the Wanstead area, founded Herongate Lodge.

The name Herongate was chosen due to a heronry in Wanstead Park and a heron formed part of the coat of arms of Wanstead District Council. However, the original choice of The Heronry Lodge was not accepted because a London Lodge of the same name had recently been formed.

More than 100 brethren attended the Consecration of the Lodge on Saturday 29th October 1927 and Herongate became the newest Lodge of the 108 that were based in Essex at that time.  

Based in Loughton the members of Herongate have always been great supporters of both the major Masonic Charities and of much smaller locally based ones. The desire to help others and recognise their sacrifices was emphasized by the decision made at the first Lodge meeting to qualify as a Hall Stone Lodge.  

Each member contributed to funds for a new Freemasons' Hall which was to be built in Great Queen Street near Covent Garden as a memorial to those Freemasons who lost their lives in the Great War of 1914-1918.  The building, opened in 1933, is one of the finest art-deco buildings in London and Freemasons and non-masons can tour the building and appreciate the workmanship and high-quality materials used to build it. If you would further information about this magnificent building and its history please follow the link here

If you have an hour to spare when you are in Central London and would like to visit Freemasons Hall and take the guided tour please follow the link here

Herongate Lodge has a great history of continuing family membership with many families having a connection over several decades and today the Lodge retains a friendly, family feel to it.

To be a member of Herongate Lodge doesn't mean that you have to live in Loughton or Wanstead. Our members are quite widely scattered throughout Essex, Herts and even further afield.

At Herongate we want new members and visitors to feel welcome and to enjoy their time with us. We feel that Freemasonry offers all its members opportunities to develop their public-speaking skills, to meet and make new friends both amongst Lodge members and with our visitors and to assist the many charitable causes that Freemasons support.

We are a Lodge with a fine history of friendliness and assisting charitable causes underpinned with a desire to produce ceremonies that are valued by ourselves and appreciated by others.

In addition to our commitment to charity and a welcoming environment we also work hard to ensure that our ceremonies are to a high standard and today we have our Lodge of Instruction to help and encourage new members to achieve their aims.

Music plays an important part in Masonic ceremonies and life.

Over the years we have been lucky enough to have had a number of fine singers and musicians at Herongate and that continues today. Of course the rest of us who are not so gifted still do our best.

One of our members in the early 1930s, a skilled musician, composed a song for the Lodge, the music of which you can hear on this website.

We look forward to celebrating our centenary in 2027, a mere 11 years from now.

We would be pleased to welcome you as a new member of our Lodge and if you would like to know more and be considered for membership please contact our Secretary and he will be pleased to provide any further information that you might need.

The history of our Lodge