Chapter History

The Lodge was formed in 1814 and is named after the Duke of Sussex who was the first Grand master of the newly formed United Grand Lodge in 1813 (a unification of the two former Grand Lodges colloquially known as the ‘Ancients’ and the ‘Moderns’). There are several other Royal Sussex Lodges in the country and abroad for which we maintain contact.​

Royal Sussex Lodge is one of the oldest lodges in Hampshire and Isle of Wight and the country at large and our members have expanded freemasonry over these 200+ years to the extent that there are now over Fifty ‘daughter’ lodges founded by them in the region. Our history covers a long period and many events have occurred in that time from the Napoleonic and Crimean War to many Monarchs being crowned including Queen Victoria for which the Duke of Sussex was her Uncle who was a great philanthropist and We are proud to associate our lodge with the Duke.​

In 2014 we celebrated our two hundredth Anniversary of Freemasonry as a Lodge and we have every intention of continuing and celebrating our tercentenary, just as Grand Lodge celebrated theirs in 2017. Should you wish to know more about the history of our lodge please contact the Secretary here.