Sandgate Masonic Hall
The Masonic Hall, 4 Gough Road, Sandgate is owned by Castle Lodge No 1436, its members have been enjoying Freemasonry in Sandgate since the 24th June 1873. Their Lodge meetings originally took place at The Royal Kent Hotel, a grand building at one time situated in the High Street. After three years they moved to the Assembly Rooms on the opposite side of the road. They moved again to their current home what is now referred to as the Masonic Hall. Following a long period of tenancy in March 1926 the brethren of Castle Lodge purchased the freehold to the building including its shop and flat. It remains one of the few Masonic Centres in the county owned by the members of a Masonic Lodge and overseen by its elected board of trustees.
Today the building provides a home for several other Masonic Lodges and other Masonic Orders. The building is also used on occasion for fund raising events and hired out for private functions.
Castle Lodge
Castle Lodge No 1436 was consecrated in Sandgate on the 24th June 1873 by the Provincial Grand Chaplain Bro Reverend W A Hills. It was initially called Sandgate Lodge changing its name to Castle Lodge in 1891. The reason for this change is unclear, however, it’s not unreasonable to speculate. The Lodge membership included many serving soldiers, some of whom would have been deployed in Sandgate Castle during their service. The change of name took place around the time when Sandgate Castle was decommissioned and sold for private use by the government. The members at that time may well have changed the name to Castle in recognition of Sandgate Castle whose future may have appeared uncertain to them at the time.
The founders of the Lodge, twelve in number, were made up predominantly of officers and NCOs from 99th Regiment based at Shorncliffe Camp, local Sandgate businessmen and an Inspector of Police. One of the founding members W.Bro Charles Coates a Captain in the 99th Regiment, Shorncliffe at the time, went on to enjoy a somewhat illustrious life. He retired at the rank of Colonel, before becoming the Sheriff of Bristol and a Justice of the Peace in his later years.
The Lodge retains archived records dating back to 1873. These provide further evidence of its strong links with the British Army throughout its first seventy years. It is apparent from these documents over half of Lodge members consisted of locally garrisoned troops. Many were already Freemasons before being posted to the area and no doubt sought the support of like-minded men when away from home. Others from across the Commonwealth were initiated into Freemasonry in Sandgate before serving overseas.
Over the years the Lodge can list many interesting characters amongst its past members. These include Members of Parliament, local civic dignitaries, members of the clergy, businessmen, and representatives from the armed forces, civil defence, and emergency services.
Castle Lodge continues to thrive, its members are extremely proud of its history and achievements, particularly the extraordinary sums it has raised in charity for both national and local good causes over the years.
The Gough Coffee Tavern
The hall and building situated on the corner of Gough Road and Sandgate High Street has a fascinating history. The name of the road Gough originates from one John Bartholomew Gough 1817 to 1886. He was the son of a soldier of the Peninsular War who ended his military service at Shorncliffe. Educated in Folkestone he went into teaching before immigrating to America in 1829. That chapter of his life appeared to have presented him with some difficult personal challenges. He remained in employment taking on a range of jobs, but his lifestyle appears to have been troublesome, he became an alcoholic for seven years. In 1842 he signed the pledge and became a temperance lecturer for 40 years.
He returned to Sandgate several times. During one of his visits on Whit Monday 1879 he laid the foundation stone of The Gough Coffee Tavern which was used as a temperance centre for troops and civilians. It appears the building was used solely for that purpose for some time, albeit its name may have changed on occasions. Images circa 1903 illustrate bold signage promoting the name J B Gough Soldiers Home. The outward appearance of the building shown in these images is almost identical to how it presents today. The building was later used to educate the poor by the Ragged School Union before being purchased by Castle Lodge.
