The History of Brocas Hyrst Lodge No. 1733
Brocas Hyrst Lodge of Mark Master Masons was formed by a number of local Mark Master Masons who came together in 1993 with a shared vision: to establish a Mark Lodge at the heart of the New Forest. Their inaugural meeting took place on 28th April 1994, with W. Bro Peter House acting as chairman for that meeting and those that followed.
Nine possible names were put forward for the new Lodge, including Brockenhurst, Forest, Forest Heart, Deer, Priory, Rufus, William Forest and Hearts of Oak. The founders ultimately chose Brocas Hyrst — the Anglo-Saxon name for Brockenhurst, meaning "Badger's Wood" or "Badger's Copse." This heritage is reflected in the Lodge crest, designed by W. Bro Trevor Ross, which along with the founders' stone bears the likeness of a badger's head.
The three stones used in the ceremony of Advancement carry their own unique history. They were crafted from Portland stone by Ian Jessop, the superintending architect at Christchurch Priory, using material that had originally been discarded as unusable. The Keystone bears the Mark of the founding Worshipful Master, while the remaining two stones carry the Marks of the founding Senior and Junior Wardens.
The petition for the Lodge's Warrant was sponsored by Christchurch Lodge of Mark Master Masons and signed by the 24 founding members. The Warrant was granted in July 1994, and the Lodge was formally consecrated on Saturday 12th November 1994 by R.W. Bro the Rev. Dr Michael Morgan, Provincial Grand Master, in a ceremony attended by 74 brethren, including the Provincial Choir led by Provincial Grand Organist Bro Derek Attree. Following the consecration, W. Bro Peter House was installed as the founding Worshipful Master.
The Lodge continued to meet at Brockenhurst until 2004, when the demolition of the old Masonic Hall and construction of the new Masonic Centre led to a temporary move to Warren Avenue, Mudeford. After much debate, the Lodge returned to the New Forest area in 2007 — not to its spiritual home of Brockenhurst, but to its current home in New Milton, where it continues to meet today.
In the years since its consecration, Brocas Hyrst Lodge has experienced the natural ebbs and flows of Lodge life — periods of fewer Advancements alongside times of real growth. Across that history, 47 brethren have been Advanced into the Lodge, with a further 11 Mark Master Masons joining from elsewhere. Today, Brocas Hyrst Lodge stands in a strong position, with its members continuing to enjoy and build on this rich Mark Masonry tradition.
When We Meet
