The oldest Lodge in Bradford, Hope No. 302 was founded in 1794,
and held its meetings in various hotels such as The Talbot (which is now just an empty
shell opposite Midland Bank at the bottom of Darley Street), The Bowling Green (which
stood where the Mechanics' Institute was built and then demolished to make way for the
National & Provincial Building Society building), The Nags Head (Kirkgate)
etc. until 1832 when the Lodge took rooms in the Dispensary, Darley Street (now
Bradford Subscription Library). 
In 1852 the Lodge of Harmony No. 600 was consecrated
and held its meetings at the George Hotel, Market Street (now used as a dance hall).
The Lodge of Hope left the dispensary in 1859 and for a few months used the rooms
of Harmony. Until 1870 Hope leased rooms in the Market Buildings for 21 years at a
rental of £40 per annum. The rooms had been damaged by fire and it cost the new
tenants about £200 to restore and decorate them. In 1893 Pentalpha Lodge
No. 974 was founded by the Lodge of Hope and has used the same rooms as its
Mother Lodge since that date.
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In 1865 Hope founded Eccleshill Lodge No. 1034. A new Freemasons Hall was built on the Marlborough Estate, Eccleshill, the foundation stone being laid on 19th November 1864 by W.Bro. Christopher Pratt. The new Lodge remained here until its removal to Rawson Square in June 1898. A photograph of the Moorside premises may be seen in the practice rooms used by Eccleshill Lodge.
Shakespeare Lodge No. 1018 was founded by Harmony in 1864 and Prince of Wales No. 1648 in 1876 and used the rooms in Salem Street, paying rent to Harmony which leased the premises.
In 1987 the Market Buildings were demolished to make room for the present Kirkgate Market Hall. A company, the Bradford Masonic Hall Co. Ltd. was formed to purchase the building occupied by the "Schiller-Verein", a German club in Rawson Square. It is now occupied by the Independent Order of Oddfellows. The company had a share capital of £6,000 in £5 shares. To these rooms Hope and Pentalpha removed in May 1876, to be followed by Shakespeare and Price of Wales in 1884, Eccleshill in 1889 and Harmony in 1903. In that year all the Bradford Lodges were under one roof at the Masonic Hall, Rawson Square. In addition to the above there were also Acacia No. 2321 founded as a Temperance Lodge in 1889 and Victoria Lodge No. 2669 consecrated in 1897. Ionic Lodge No. 3210 was consecrated in these rooms in 1907. By this time there were nine Lodges now occupying the rooms and they must have been feeling cramped for space for in 1907 a new company, the Freemasons' Hall (Westgate) Co. Ltd. was formed to lease and adapt the Westgate Baptist Chapel for Masonic purposes. All the Lodges, with the exception of Hope and Pentalpha removed there in 1908. King Edward VII Lodge No. 3442 was consecrated in Westgate in 1910. [Back to top]
In 1910 Hope and Pentalpha received notice to quit Rawson Square, the shares in the company having been purchased by one Brother and the premises sold to a new owner. For a few months the two Lodges occupied the old rooms of Harmony in Salem Street and for about 12 months they enjoyed the use of the rooms of Airedale Lodge No. 387 in Wainman Street, Shipley. In 1913 Hope and Pentalpha removed to new premises in North Parade, and there in 1920 founded the Lodge of Charity No. 4105.
Meanwhile Corinthian No. 3600 consecrated 1912, Peace No. 3988 consecrated 1919, Doric No. 4073 and Faith No. 4223 consecrated 1920 and 1921 respectively, were all new tenants of the Westgate rooms.
Hope, Pentalpha and Charity purchased the house of the late Dr. Killick in Spring Bank Place and after extensive alterations and rebuilding moved there in 1926. In 1945 the Lodge of Equity No. 6119 was consecrated and the four Lodges occupied the Masonic Hall, Spring Bank Place, which was owned jointly by them. [Back to top]
Returning to the Westgate premises, these had been purchased by some brethren of the Lodge of Charity, but no tenancy agreements acceptable to the various Lodges could be settled. In 1927 Temple Lodge No. 4963 was consecrated at Westgate, and in 1928 the thirteen Lodges, together with the Chapters, Preceptory, Mark and other Degrees connected with them moved into new Freemasons' Hall, Manningham Lane, owned by the Bradford Masonic Association.
Since 1928, Fraternity No. 5697 founded in 1937, Bradford No. 5966 founded in 1944, Felicity No. 6001 founded in 1945, Criterion No. 6220 founded in 1946 and St Peter No. 6509 founded in 1947 have also occupied the Manningham Lane building. By 1953 there were in Freemasons' Hall eighteen Lodges, five Chapters, two Preceptories, two Mark Mason Lodges, one Royal Ark Mariners, one Red Cross Conclave, one Societe Rosicruciana in Anglia; a total of 30 Masonic organisations. [Back to top]
During the next 25 years Masonry appeared to flourish at the Connaught with wonderful Dinner Dances in the Ballroom and large banquets in the oak panelled ground floor dining room. It was the highlight of the social calendar to go to a function at the Connaught. However, running costs were rising and the building with its fittings was deteriorating. To meet the latest standards of safety and hygiene was becoming very expensive. Lodge membership started to decline. There was an undercurrent of concern amongst the Lodges.
Other Masonic Halls at Spring Bank Place, Hoyle Court, Charles Street, Bingley and outside the Bradford area were suffering with the same symptoms, rising costs and falling membership. They enticed many Lodges to leave the Connaught. The increase in numbers helped to ease their financial difficulties, but exacerbated the situation at Manningham Lane. In 1989 the Bradford Masonic Association sold Freemasons' Hall and leased back the top floors. The sale proceeds cleared all debts and left a surplus in the bank, and the interest from this capital assisted to defray costs. The lease is with short and long term options all to the benefit of Masonry. The rooms have now been refurbished and redecorated and the eight Lodges, namely Harmony, Eccleshill, Fraternity, Victoria, Temple, Felicity, St Peter and Faith who have remained at the Connaught are enjoying their Masonry in conducive surroundings and on a firm financial foundation. [Back to top]