Our meeting place

The Temple

At the heart of Gosport Masonic Hall is the lodge room—traditionally called the Temple—a place of ceremony, reflection, friendship and service.

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A current wide view of the Temple inside Gosport Masonic Hall, showing the chequered pavement, officers’ chairs, lodge banners and honour boards
The Temple at Gosport Masonic Hall, photographed in September 2026.

A Gosport home

More than a century
in Clarence Road

Freemasonry has formed part of Gosport life since the early eighteenth century. Before a permanent home was secured, local Masonic meetings had links with a succession of public houses.

The present Masonic Hall at 5 Clarence Road was purchased in 1918. It gave Gosport’s Freemasons a lasting centre for lodge meetings, dining and fellowship, and it remains home to several lodges and affiliated Masonic organisations today.

1715Freemasonry recorded in Gosport
1918Present hall purchased
5 Clarence RoadGosport, Hampshire

A look around

The Temple
today

These current photographs show the room from each of its principal viewpoints, including the officers’ stations, lodge banners and the honour boards recording generations of service.

The Temple viewed towards an officers’ chair, with Alwarestoch and other lodge banners displayed on the wall
The officers’ station and lodge banners
A side of the Temple showing lodge banners, honour boards and rows of green seats
Lodge banners and honour boards
The principal chair in the Temple framed by historic wooden honour boards
The principal chair and historic honour boards
The Temple viewed towards an officers’ station, with Masonic banners and ceremonial furnishings
An officers’ station and ceremonial furnishings
A further view around the Temple showing officers’ seating, Masonic banners and honour boards
Another view around the lodge room

Inside the room

A setting rich in
Masonic tradition

The Temple is arranged for formal lodge meetings and ceremonies. Its chequered pavement, ceremonial chairs, lodge banners and carefully placed officers’ stations give the room its distinctive character.

Around its walls, honour boards preserve the names of brethren who have served their lodges as Worshipful Master. Alwarestoch’s own board begins with its first Master, W. Bro. F. P. Small, in 1962.

Explore the Alwarestoch honour board →
Alwarestoch Lodge honour board in the Temple, listing Worshipful Masters from 1962
Alwarestoch’s honour board in the Temple
Masonic gavels and square and compasses displayed at Gosport Masonic Hall
Details prepared for a lodge meeting

The Temple today

A shared home for
Gosport Freemasonry

The hall is shared by a family of local lodges and Masonic orders, each with its own traditions, calendar and charitable work.

Alwarestoch meets here seven times each year, on the second Wednesday of its meeting months. Lodge meetings are followed by the Festive Board, where members and visitors dine together in companionship.

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An earlier photograph of the lodge room inside Gosport Masonic Hall
An earlier view of the Temple. Image: Gosport Heritage.

Then and now

A room that carries its history

The older photograph provides an interesting comparison with the Temple today. Its familiar chequered pavement, green seating, ceremonial furniture and honour boards remain central to the character of the room.

View the Gosport Heritage record →

Sources & further reading

Explore the hall’s story

Official hall websiteGosport Masonic HallAbout the hall and its lodges ↗ Local heritageFreemasonry in Gosport since 1715History and lodge-room photograph ↗ Heritage Open DaysHistory of Freemasonry in GosportThe story of the present hall ↗

Historical image reproduced with a clear source credit for this private preview. Permission should be confirmed with Gosport Heritage before the website is made public.