Basingstoke Masonic Club
About us
The Basingstoke Masonic Club (hereafter ‘The Club’) operates the Basingstoke Masonic Hall (hereafter ‘The Centre’).
The Club exists to provide a welcoming, well‑run home for Freemasons and their guests in the Basingstoke area. We support the Lodges, Chapters and other Orders that meet here by offering comfortable facilities, a friendly atmosphere, and a commitment to upholding the traditions and values of Freemasonry.
Our aim is simple: to offer a well‑managed venue where members can meet, socialise, and enjoy the fellowship that Freemasonry is known for.
The Club is overseen by a dedicated committee who manage the building, bar, dining arrangements, and day‑to‑day operations. We work continuously to improve the facilities and ensure The Centre remains a place members are proud to use and support.
If you are enquiring about joining Freemasonry, are a Freemason wishing to visit or join The Centre, or are a member seeking information about upcoming events, please Contact Us for further details.
Join Us
Why bring your Warrant to the Basingstoke Masonic Centre?
You would be bringing your Lodge or Chapter to one of Hampshire’s most welcoming and well‑equipped Masonic venues, offering a modern, comfortable, and beautifully maintained environment for Lodges and Chapters seeking a new home. Bringing your Warrant to the BMC means joining a thriving community that values tradition, fellowship, and the highest standards of hospitality.
Our facilities are designed with Freemasonry in mind. The Centre boasts a spacious and well‑appointed Temple, excellent dining facilities, a fully stocked bar, and comfortable social areas that make every meeting a pleasure. Whether you are hosting a regular meeting, a festive board, a rehearsal, or a special event, the Centre provides everything you need for a smooth and enjoyable experience.
Beyond the physical space, the BMC is known for its vibrant calendar of events. From themed evenings and social gatherings to charity functions and inter‑lodge activities, we offer a lively programme that strengthens bonds between Brethren and enhances the enjoyment of Freemasonry. Lodges and Chapters that join us benefit from being part of a supportive, active, and friendly Masonic community.
Choosing the Basingstoke Masonic Centre means choosing convenience, quality, and a warm welcome. We take pride in providing a venue where Lodges and Chapters can flourish, where members feel at home, and where the traditions of Freemasonry are honoured with dignity and care. We would be delighted to host your Warrant and look forward to supporting your Lodge or Chapter for many years to come.
History
The Basingstoke Masonic Hall first opened in 1927 by Oakley Lodge No. 694, and since that time has been the thriving Masonic Centre for many Daughter Lodges of Oakley and Chapters in the area of Basingstoke and comes under the North East Hampshire Area of the Hampshire and isle of Wight Province.
It is understood that many of The Brethren were builders and they pooled their resources and built The Masonic Hall
What follows is an extract from The History of Oakley Lodge No.694 1857 - 2023 written by W.Bro. Bob Williams
"At a meeting on the 6th October 1924 approval was given for the purchase of a plot of land in Victoria Street as a site for a Masonic Temple and W.Bro. Ellice Hick-Beach, P.G.D., W.Bro. Frank Stratford and Bro. John Cox were appointed Trustees. The purchase of the site for £350 was confirmed on the 2nd March 1925, but it was not until further meetings in May and October 1926 and a Regular Meeting on the lst November 1926 that members of the Lodge formally approved the recommendations of the Working Party and the project could proceed. The Tender from M.J.Goodall and Son was for £1,816.
The new Temple was dedicated on the 5th May 1927 by the R.W. Provincial Grand Master, the Earl of Malmesbury, assisted by his Officers. The ceremony was witnessed
by a large number of members and visiting Brethren, and was followed by the
Installation of Bro. W.G. Hubbard, S.W., as Worshipful Master. The Address to the
Worshipful Master was given by the R.W. Provincial Grand Master.
On the 2nd April 1929, it was proposed by the Worshipful Master, W.Bro. T.C.
Chesterfield, and resolved, that a Masonic Charities Association be formed. First ‘Daughter’ Lodge At the Installation Meeting in May 1934 the Lodge agreed to sponsor the formation of Basing Lodge. A Warrant was granted to Basing Lodge 5500 on the 1st August 1934 and the new Lodge was Consecrated on the 10th December 1934 by the R.W. Provincial Grand Master and thus became the first ‘daughter’ of Oakley Lodge.
On the 3rd May 1935 W.Bro. H.A.Aylward was presented with an armchair and a wallet in recognition of his 25 years as Secretary. Dining Facilities Provided For many years the Banquet after the Installation Ceremony had been held at the Town Hall and the Brethren dined after ordinary Lodge meetings in various hotels and restaurants. In 1935 it was felt the time had come to provide dining facilities at the Lodge so that the Brethren could dine together in their own building, and early in that year a Committee was appointed to consider schemes and estimate costs.
Unfortunately, no report appears to have been prepared and the matter was not discussed again until January 1937 and a new Committee appointed. In April 1938 it
was finally decided to build a dining room at a cost of not more than £2,250. The
work was completed in late Autumn 1939 and the Brethren dined together in the new
dining hall for the first time after the Regular Meeting in January 1940."