Our History

Consecration (1949)

Crowley Lodge No. 6901 was consecrated in 1949 in the Province of Durham. The lodge was named in honour of Sir Ambrose Crowley (c.1658–1713), one of the foremost industrialists of his era. Crowley established ironworks in the North East of England and became one of the largest employers of the time — a figure deeply embedded in the history of the region.

Liddell Lodge, Industry No. 48, and the Crowley tradition

Crowley Lodge was founded by Brethren of Liddell Lodge No. 3616 who were keenly interested and deeply conscious of the important history of their Mother Lodge, The Lodge of Industry No. 48. They were also keenly interested in Ambrose Crowley and his colony of workers, with which this history is inextricably bound up.

Before 1690 very little was known of the village of Winlaton, but Joseph Cowen said concerning Winlaton — “Since then (i.e. the year 1690) it has risen to National Renown.” He also said “When many busy centres of industry in Durham were moorland and forest, Winlaton was the seat of a vigorous industry.” The semi-socialist experiment of Crowley was interesting, both politically and industrially. It is important to note that it is now established that Crowley’s idea preceded that of Thomas Owen by some years, which makes Crowley the pioneer in industrial development and social experiment in Europe.

The workers lived largely in community: they began their work with prayer; they ate together; they had a code of laws and voluntary courts; they built schools and a chapel and supported a Minister; they had a Surgeon, and benefits for sickness, retirement, disability and death. They were stout church and king men, rough but loyal. ‘Crowley’s Crew’ would brook no outside interference with their rights and privileges. The success of the Crowley ‘Experiment’ and of Crowley’s Courts became widely known.

The man at the head of the firm was Ambrose Crowley, who was knighted in 1706, served as Sheriff of London in 1707, and was M.P. for Andover when he died in 1713. He not only built up a great industrial concern employing 1,500 men, but also planned this ‘experiment’ and encouraged his workers in carrying it out. There is a direct connection between the Crowley Colony and Freemasonry in the North-East, though the full documentary evidence is not yet complete.

There is little doubt that there was an Operative Company at Sunderland in 1680 and at Winlaton in 1687, the members of which built the great works of Mr. Ambrose Crowley. At Winlaton in 1687, Ambrose Crowley started to build his new works, beginning to move into them in 1689. (These works were closed in 1816, after which the greater portion of Crowley’s manufactures was made at Swalwell and Winlaton Mill.)

The Lodge of Industry has documentary evidence of its existence as an Operative Lodge in the year 1725. The tradition in the Province of Durham is that it was established in 1690, and the Lodge has a pair of Columns bearing that date. The Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham hold in their Museum a Water Clock made in 1701 by L. Barton — the earliest piece of Masonic symbolism yet traced in this region.

It may be that the establishment in this district of a Lodge bearing the name Crowley — so closely associated with the history of Freemasonry in the North-East — will be of great assistance in perpetuating and emphasising the importance of these associations, and may be the means of gathering information and documents to close the gap between the years 1690 and 1725, which would be of enormous value to Freemasonry in the North-East and to the grand old Lodge of Industry in particular.

Sir Ambrose Crowley

Sir Ambrose Crowley was born around 1658 and died in 1713. He built an extensive ironworks operation in the North East, centred on Winlaton, Swalwell, and surrounding communities in County Durham. Knighted in 1706, he is remembered for his unusually progressive Crowley Law — a social welfare code for his workers covering sick pay, pensions, and dispute resolution — ideas that were centuries ahead of their time.

The lodge bearing his name reflects those enduring values of community, care, and responsibility.

Our heritage

The lodge has met at Freemasons Hall, Holmside Avenue, Dunston for many years, sharing the hall with sister lodges including Liddell Lodge No. 3616, Eslington Lodge No. 4623, Winlaton St Paul's Lodge No. 8931, and Dunston St Nicholas Lodge No. 9712.

Timeline

Province of Durham

Crowley Lodge is proud to be part of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Durham, which supports lodges and charitable work across the county and beyond. You can read more about provincial activities and events on the official Province website.