Around the start of the twentieth century, there was a great increase in the number of Freemasons who were then meeting in Wallasey. At that time they met either at the Concert Hall, or at the Assembly Rooms, both of which were located in Manor Road. As these venues were becoming inadequate for the greater number of Freemasons meetings now being held there, it was decided that the Freemasons’ in Wallasey required a building of their own.
So in 1910 a new company, was formed, The Wallasey Masonic Hall Company Limited. It was set up to provide for the financing and management of a new Masonic Hall in Wallasey. The Board of Directors of this new company quickly raised sufficient financial capital from a share issue to enable the construction and fitting out the new Hall.
The Hall Company was fortunate to have a close connection with Joseph Boughey, an ancestor of Boughey and Dalziel, Estate Agents in Wallasey. W.Bro.Joseph was a prominent Wallasey Freemason who had speculatively purchased a vacant plot of land in Manor Road. He sold on half of his purchase to the Hall Company, and, as a builder and developer, he went on to build a speculative block of terrace housing on the remainder of the site. The residential properties are still in existence today, just next door to the Hall.
The Architect appointed for the design of Wallasey Masonic Hall was JWB Harding FSA of Liverpool. His particular forte was the design of cinemas, then a new building type, which were replacing music halls.
On 6 May 1911 W.Bro.Lieut-Col H.Cornwall Leigh JP, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire, with due ceremony, laid the Foundation Stone for the Hall. It can be seen on the left hand side of the main entrance doorway. Seven months later, on 20 December 1911, the Hall was consecrated and ready for Masonic business. The lodges meeting at the other local venues all moved to the new Hall. With the closure of the Masonic Hall in Oliver Street, Wallasey Masonic Hall is now the only purpose built Masonic hall in Wirral.
The front elevation to the Hall is in a Ruabon red pressed brick, with the window reveals and the main front entrance door surrounds being detailed in Cefn Stone. The original 1911 imposing front elevation is set out in grand classical proportions. Sadly the later extension, which dates from the late 1930’s, dominates the street elevation of the Hall from Manor Road.
The Hall is distinguished by having the coat of arms of the United Grand Lodge of England carved into the stone pediment at high level over the main entrance doors. This carved feature is quite rare. Perhaps one day finance will be found to clean the front elevation stonework and bring it back to its former glory.
The interior of the 1911 part of the Hall is in a grand Edwardian style. All the internal plasterwork and related ornamentation to the principal rooms, and in particular to the Large Lodge Room and Large Dining Room are original of the period. There have been a few minor changes to the fabric over the years, but happily the Hall retains much of its former grand character. The Hall does clearly show the opulence that was Wallasey a hundred years ago, even the crockery and cutlery were all branded with the name of the Hall, Sadly little of these items and artefacts remain today.
In the 1930’s the membership for Freemasonry continued to flourish in Wallasey, and there was a need for further accommodation at the Hall. A second smaller dining room and lodge room were added in 1937. This was to the design of William P Horsburgh Architect FRIBA. Along with Charles E.Deacon, he designed St.Mary’s Church in Withens Lane in Liscard. Horsburgh was also responsible for the design of Blackburn Chambers (c.1932) which is located at the corner of Dale Street in Liverpool, close by the Birkenhead Tunnel entrance.
This later extension repeats the Ruabon red brick and stone details of the original building. The interiors, however, do not have the Edwardian exuberance of the original building, perhaps reflecting the later stages of the Art Deco period. There may also have been financial constraints, particularly as this was constructed at the time of the 1930’s economic Depression.
Sadly few records are in existence for the Hall’s first thirty years. The Hall Company records were kept at its registered office in Cook Street in Liverpool City Centre. The building was completely destroyed in the Liverpool May 1941 Blitz, along with the Hall records.