Fishguard masonic Hall Open Day

Fishguard Masonic Hall is one hundred years old this month! The first Lodge meeting was held there on 20 November 1925. To celebrate its birthday, Strumble Lodge held a Centenary Open Day on Saturday 8 November. The Temple and Dining Room were open to the public, and a massive 170 people visited the building. The Dining Room hosted a local history exhibition with over three hundred images, together with a Fishguard Masonic History exhibition with thirty images and twenty jewels from 1906 Kemes Lodge Founders' jewels to the present day. Even the bar was commandeered for exhibition purposes!

Brethren in regalia were on hand to accompany visitors in the Temple and give some explanation as to what was on display. The local history exhibition was put on by Hanes Abergwaun, who were supported by Strumble Lodge during their start up in 2021.

The Open Day was well publicised in the locality and on social media, and the Fishguard Local History Facebook page was alive with many supportive comments after the day was done.

The Open Day also featured on the Hidden Pembrokeshire - Gareth Davies Facebook page (40 photos, 36,000 followers) where he said (unprompted!) 'What stood out most during my visit was the openness and sense of continuity. The Freemasons of Fishguard are clearly proud of their heritage but also keen to share it, welcoming the public to see beyond the symbolism and understand the real meaning behind their work. The afternoon felt less like stepping into a secret world and more like being invited to discover a part of Fishguard’s living history, one built on fellowship, service, and respect.'.

Hanes Abergwaun is a significant resource of local history information for Fishguard and its surrounding area. It also contains sections on the Masonic history of Strumble and Kemes Lodges.