The Warwickshire Provincial Museum and Library
A Museum and Library for the Province first came into being in
1908 at the New Masonic Hall in Birmingham and had some 200 books of which only
63 were Masonic but of great value. At this time each Lodge in the Province
contributed £1.1.0 - it is only £5.00 for each Lodge now. When the
Broad St. Temple was opened in 1927 a large room on the ground floor was set
aside as the Museum and Library.
In 1939, when the building was taken over, everything had to be
moved at 24 hours notice. Everything was packed in tea chests and stored at the
Congregational Church Schools adjacent to the Edgbaston Assembly Rooms. The
packing cases remained unopened until the move to the present building in
Stirling Road in 1971. The main hall was the Museum and a side room the
Library. Since then the Museum has moved up to its present position on the
balcony and the Library to a room under the main Temple.
The Library could be
described as one of the hidden mysteries of Masonry. Not everyone knows where
it is; many have not been inside the doors to sample the knowledge that is
there. There are around 2,000 books mostly on Masonic matters but others of
interest. There is a Breech's Bible of 1599 and another dated 1604, a book of
Common Prayer dated 1640. Books of Constitution from the first in 1723 and
including a rare 1746 edition. Engraved lists of lodges, a 1728 list which as
far as we know is the only one in existance. The Library is made up of books
that you would expect to find in such a collection, Provincial Histories, Lodge
Histories, general Masonic knowledge. Non Masonic books include Dugdales
Antiquities of Warwickshire, Plots History of Staffordshire and
Culpeppers Herbal.
The balcony and Museum
provide a spectacular backdrop to the entrances to the six lodge rooms utilised
by the Warwickshire Lodges and Royal Arch Chapters who meet at Stirling
Road.
Adjacent to these rooms are the dining rooms used by the respective Lodges for their Festive Boards after Lodge business is concluded. The Museum is available for inspection at any time the premises are open.
To visit the Library, which is not open on a regular basis, please contact Barbara Powell on +44 (0) 121 454 4422 to arrange.
Library
Catalogue