Estune Chapter No. 485
Warranted 23rd June, 1955
Lodge History
By all accounts the Petitioners met with resistance from the then Inspector General, V:.ILl:.Bro. Geo. Travel’s Biggs, who was sceptical at their suggestion of the need for development in the County and viewed their sentiments with suspicion.
The support for a Petition was instituted by a number of Brethren who were relatively new Members of the Charity Chapter No. 439, meeting at Downend, Bristol, in the District of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. This fact alone would certainly have involved the Inspector
General of that District in discussions with Somerset’s, and possibly with the Inspector General of BALDWYN. One question that would have been considered is why these Brethren, recently Perfected in a Chapter consecrated four years previously, should have a sudden desire to found a Chapter in another District!
Furthermore, one important aspect of the approach that would have concerned the Inspector General was the apparent lack of experience amongst the Petitioners. Thus the Chapter in its formative years would have been lacking experience at both Administration and Ceremonial levels.
Whatever the differences, history recalls that the Petition was accepted and the Chapter was
Consecrated in the Masonic Hall, Nailsea, on 30th September, 1955. The Chapter was the first to be Consecrated in Somerset since WILLIAM DE IRWIN in 1870.
The name Estune was that by which the village of Long Ashton was written by the Normans and surveyed under that title in the Doomsday Book. It was once the property of Geoffrey, Bishop of Coutances, Normandy.
Lodge Meeting
The Chapter meets at Nailsea Masonic Hall on the third Thursday in March, May and October (18 – 30hrs).
The Masonic Hall, Nailsea BS48 1BA (01275 853993)
From Bristol take the A370 towards Weston-super-Mare to Backwell; turn right at 1st set Tfc L along Station Road towards Nailsea for approx 2 miles; Nailsea Park turning on left, which is a Cul-de-sac. MH on left, (behind housing).
From Junction 21 M5, take A370 towards Bristol to Backwell, turn left at 2nd set Tfc L into Station Road towards Nailsea for approx 2 miles, then follow instructions as above.
