Ancient Order of Druids

[BarryW]

The two most likley lodges that I can find from the 1923 lists are:

Lodge number 2 - Queens Head, York St, Stepney (met on a Wed). This was a very old lodge, probably formed in the early 1780's
Lodge Number 434 - Ship Afloat Lodge, Spread eagle, Gill St. Limehouse (met on a Tue)

Both Lodges have long gone I am afraid but ther may be something lurking in a local library/record office. If you find anything please let me know.

Regards

Barry

[mikehad]

Barry I  have been trying to track you notes to various people on the subject of  Ancient Order of Druids – you seem well informed.  My interest is that Grandfather was a member  up-till death.

December 1924 on till 1972 (Alma Lodge 577 AOD  – The Holborn restaurant and Kings Hall rooms…I think) . I have a photo of the 13th world Congress  in Margate  in June 1967 too – However I understand, from your notes about the changes over the years and that the was a split and name changes.

the papers I have include info on: The Beaconsfield Lodge 460,  the Alma Lodge 577 13th Banquet November 1925, certificates Royal Arch for 722 chapter 25 Feb 1945 –and a card from Province No2?

Is there any local links to those Margate/Ramsgate/Broadstairs Lodge or indeed any history to help with my research

[BarryW]

Hello Mike

Really interesting

Alma Lodge 577, I have as meeting at the Alma Hotel (Hence the name) York Rd, Wandsworth. These were all lodges of the Ancient Order of Druids

Grand Lodge Number 2 was (and still is) known as the Isle of Thanet Grand Lodge. This contained Lodges 425 (St Aethelbyrht) in Ramsgate; 441 (Providence) in Margate; 450 (Isle of Thanet) in Westgate on Sea; 460 (Beaconsfield) in Margate?; 512 (St John Falstaff) in Ramsgate and later were joined by  722 (Queen of Thanet) again I think in Margate.

You'll be gald to know that Lodges 425; 441; 460 and 722 still exist. Margate has more lodges left than anywhere else in the UK. If you PM me your details I will see if I can get someone to contact you. It is possible that some of the older members may remember him.

Any chance of posting the picture of the world congress on here? There is an affiliation worldwide of fraternal druid groups called the International grand Lodge of Druidry. This photo is of a meeting held in the UK.

[bikercriss 13]

Hi Barry
I am a new member and i have just come across you msg about the order of the Druids i have my mums wedding cert and on the back there is a stamp mark and it reads the order of the druids, board of managment date 23rd of June 1947.
I dont what this means or is it unusual to find it on wedding cert?.
 Kind regards Chris 13 

[BarryW]

Hi Chris

That ones has got me a bit foxed but I think I may be able to offer an explanation??

The Order of Druids was a friendly society offshoot from the Ancient Order of Druids. It was formed in the 1850's and was strongest in terms of membership in Cheshire, Lancs and Yorks (where are you?). It admitted both men and women.

Members enjoyed set benefits such as sick pay, funeral benefits etc before the NHS/Social Security started. I have not heard them paying for a wedding before but it is certainly possible. I think the most likley explanation is that she was using it as proof of her change of name for one of the saving plans that the OOD ran later on (life insurance or something similar).

Does this seem plausible?

Regards

Barry

[bikercriss 13]

Hi Barry
I am from the north east of England near Newcastle, but my mum was originally from London and thats were my mum and dad got married my dad was in the 2nd ww.
You have given a good explanation but i really dont know any thing about this or the order of the druids i really thought this was odd?

kind regards Chris

[mikehad]

Hi Barry - yes you can have copies - I am at work in Cannock just now but will return to Evesham tonight - I will scan what i have?

Mike

[BarryW]

Chris

There are a couple of nice books out there if you get interested in the subject

Prof Ronald Hutton's book - The Druids has a nice Chapter on fraternal druids; Victoria Solt Dennis's book - Dicovering Friendly and Fraternal Societies is good. The acceptted clasic on friendly societies is I suppose Gosden's - The Friendly Societies of England 1815-75.

[Johnyboy73]

Barry I  have been trying to track info re the Ancient Order of Druids as I have a "Past Arch" gold medal that was owned by a distant relation of mine who held the position of Archdruid . The lodge was Regni Lodge No 709 (Kings Lynn, Norfolk I suspect)

Any info on this would help answer 20 years of wondering what it was!