A Short History Of The Lodge

The Brethren who decide that a new Lodge should be formed generally, having defined the need, have preconceived notions as to what suits them and from where future members should be drawn. Often it has been from the ranks of their own professions or social or cultural groups and the Role of Grand Lodge can produce many such examples.

The majority of our Founders lived in Fleetwood, but worked in Manchester, and they travelled every day on the now long gone railway line between these two towns. It was always very difficult to get to the various Lodges in the town for a 6.30 pm start, so when the opportunity arose they decided to form a new Lodge to cater not only for themselves but for future members who would have to make the same daily journey. Their Lodge would start at 6.45 pm and so it has continued since the day of our second meeting some forty years ago. They were not to know that Dr Beeching was to axe that particular railway connection.

They also pondered long and hard over the name of their Lodge. There are four mighty rivers that run though Lancashire into the Irish Sea, the Mersey, the Wyre, the Ribble and the Lune. Ribble Lodge was consecrated in 1923. In 1925 Lune Lodge was consecrated in Lancaster, in 1930 Mersey Lodge was consecrated in Liverpool, so it was fitting that this New Lodge should be named after the river Wyre upon which the prosperity and aspirations of the town of Fleetwood were dependent. Our Mother Lodge of whom we are extremely proud is Fleetwood Lodge 3711 and our Grandmother Lodge is Hesketh Lodge 950, the oldest lodge in the North Fylde Group.

And so it came to pass.

The composition of the membership of our Lodge, standing today at 48, is not as our Founders planned, the Cod War, the loss of the railway and the link to the Isle of Man put paid to that. Instead there is a representation of the many professions and trades that are to be found not only in Fleetwood but in the whole Fylde area.

In one way we are unique, we meet on the first Thursday of the month from October to May inclusive but we meet for practice every remaining Thursday for the entire year, and often there are as many as 18 brethren present at these practices. So we know each other well and this is reflected in the fact that there is usually over 75% of our membership present at Lodge meetings, at which there are often some sixty or seventy brethren present.

In addition we have fraternal links with Ribblesdale Lodge in Blackburn, with Lodge Kelburne in the Province of Argyll and the Isles of Scotland, and with Red Hall Lodge in County Antrim in Ireland with all of whom we have reciprocating visits.

Wyre Lodge is indebted to W.Bro.W.S.Linkison P.Pr.J.G.W.
for providing this history.