Historically referred to as the Men from Manchester, it can only be surmised that the desire to socialise with men who spoke with the same accent and hail from a similar background was an underlying cause for considering a new Lodge, while the burgeoning membership of existing Lodges was given as one of the reasons for the need to form a new lodge

​

The strong representation from the North West can be attributed to the great depression, which was well under way when Valence Lodge was formed. This affected different areas in different ways. The economy in the South East remained reasonably buoyant, partly supported by the demand for the new consumer goods such as the Ford motorcar. It certainly appears that the rise of the Ford factory and their recruitment of engineers from the Midlands were bringing a lot of strangers into the district, many with Masonic backgrounds.

​

Following a preliminary meeting at the home of Harold Taylor on the 14" of June 1932, the first recorded indication that the formation of a new Lodge was being considered was a letter from a Mr. Joseph Ryecroft in Old Trafford Manchester, replying one from Harold Taylor who had been seeking guidance on how to form a new Lodge.

In this letter Mr. Ryecroft gives the following suggested guidance as to the reasons for forming the new Lodge, which was adopted verbatim in a letter to the Provincial Grand Master dated June 28th1932.

​

The proposed founders have come to permanently reside in this neighbourhood and we find that that the Lodges already in the district have a large membership and being desirous of introducing our friends to the craft, who are wishfiil to join the order we feel that the Lodges who have already many members are not so attractive to the class of candidate who would do credit to the order as a Lodge which offers earlier opportunity for active service and as the population of this district has been very recently increased it appears to your petitioners that it would further the best interest of the craft in general and of this Province in particular if one or more new Lodges were established in the immediate neighbour hood.

​

Mr Ryecroft also attached the copy of a Grand Lodge document in which the guidelines for accepting a new Lodge were shown. These no doubt influenced the above suggested approach as did the suggestion that Mr. Taylor make every effort to get on the ’soft side of the Provincial Grand Master and to play to the gallery for all you are worth in order to achieve the desired result.

​

What's in a name?

​

A meeting on the 27" June 1932 unanimously agreed that the new Lodge be named ‘The Mancunian Lodge’ but following a meeting with the Provincial Grand Master and after much discussion a subsequent committee meeting agreed to change the name to Valence Lodge. W.Bro C.W.Miles in his 50-year Jubilee book advises that the Provincial Grand Master had not considered the Mancunian Lodge as a name suitable for carrying into the future.

​

Valence as a name was and still is represented locally by Valence House, the only remaining manor house in the Dagenham area. That it was the inspiration for the Lodge name cannot be disputed as a view of one end of the house is displayed on the Lodge banners and jewels.

​

The name Valence is of Anglo-French origin, with Agnes de Valence being the lady whose name, despite never having been the owner of the property, is immortalised in the house name.

​

Agnes de Valence's Grandmother, Isabella of Angouleme was the wife of King John{1167- 1216}. After the king’s death she returned to France and married the Count of La Marche. This scandalised the English Nobility and her son Henry II confiscated her property. As was the way of Royalty in those days, a few plots and a war later we find William de Valence, one of Isabella's children being given asylum and preference by King Edward I.

​

William's daughter Agnes de Valence was, as was the lot of noblewomen in the 13th Century used as a political pawn. First married to two Scottish Lords and then an Irish one, all for political gain, she was then retired to Dagenham.

​

Over the centuries the house has changed hands many times and is currently owned by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. None of the original house exists and even the parts commemorated in our Banner and jewels have disappeared behind a flat roofed extension, built to house a local council meeting chamber.

An extensive renovation project, was commenced in 2008 and aims to restore as much of the house as possible to its ancient state. It can only be hoped that the 100-year edition of this history will show some well-known views restored.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

The Formation

 

Nothing is born out of nothing, and such is the way with Masonic Lodges. In order to be consecrated it is first necessary to obtain a sponsor. To this end the Master elect and the Secretary attended a meeting of Rainham Lodge on the 24th of September 1932, at which they had presented a petition to form a new lodge. Rainham Lodge in graciously consenting to act as sponsors thereby became the mother lodge to Valence.

 

At a meeting on the 9th of November the secretary advised that he had received consent from

Grand Lodge for the new lodge in the name of Valence Lodge No.5388

​​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Consecration

 

Arrangements were made for the consecration service to be held on the 7th of January 1933 at the Palace Hotel, Southend but were cancelled due to the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master being unable to attend. Alternative arrangements were then made, and the consecration took place at The Masonic Hall, Loughton on the 14th of January 1933.

 

The ceremony of consecration was performed by the then Right Worshipful Grand Master, General R.B. Colvin, C.B. P.G.D.lord Lieutenant of Essex.

He was assisted by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Very Worshipful Brother Sir Harry Goshen, Bart. Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Worshipful Brother Sir Frederic Senior P.P.G.W. W.

 

Also taking part in the ceremony were

 

W. Bro. F.T. Cramphom, Prov.S.G.W. Senior Warden. Chaplin.

W. Bro. J. Wylie Patterson, Prov.J.G.W. Junior Warden.

W. Bro. Rev. Herbert Dunnico, J.P. Prov.G. Chaplin.

W. Bro. Rev. A.J. Gilson, M.A. Prov. G. Chaplin. Chaplin.

W. Bro. H.J. Goodwin, P.A.G.D.C. P.P.G.W. Prov. G. Sec. Secretary.

W. Bro. W.J. Slipper, P.A.G.D.C. Prov. G.D.C. Dir. Of Ceremony.

W. Bro. A. Stokes, P.P.G.W. Prov. Dep. G.D.C. Asst. D. of C.

W. Bro. G. Detenon, Prov. A.G. Swd. B. Sword Bearer.

W. Bro. D.W.H. Penrose, Prov. G. Org. Organist.

W. Bro. F.W. Swaine, P.P.G.Std. B. Inner Guard.

Brother F.J. Slade. Prov. G. Tyler. Tyler.

 

The Provincial Grand Secretary, W.Brother H.J. Goodwin, P.A.G.D.C. P.P.G.W performed the ceremony of installation.

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​​​​

​

The Founders. 

​

L to R Back row. W.Bro. R. Chadwick, Bro. W.E. King-Meggat, Bro. C. Thacker, W. Bro. A. Forster, Bro. H. Chisnall, W.Bro. T.H. Knight.

Front row. W. Bro. H. Bailey, Bro. E. Percival, W. Bro. H. Taylor, Bro. J.G. Kennedy, W.Bro. G.P. Trentham.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​