There has been an active Freemason’s Lodge in Burntisland for 153 years. Lodge Dunearn was chartered on 7th Nov 1859, and named after an estate to the north west of the town. There is also evidence of masonic activity in Burntisland before 1859. Freemasonry is one of the world's oldest secular fraternal societies and has it’s roots in the medieval Craft or Trade Guilds of Scotland in particular the Guilds of operative stonemasons. From early times there were two distinct groups of stonemasons. One group were resident in towns and cities and were involved in small building projects and building maintenance. The Blacksmiths, Coopers and Stonemasons in Burntisland were combined to form the Hammermen’s Guild. Records show that 3 stonemasons were registered with the Burntisland Hammermen’s Guild between 1648 and 1683. The Craft Guilds in Burntisland were given Seal of Cause in 1683 and the seven Craft Guilds which existed, including the Hammermen, became part of the Incorporated Trades. 9 stonemasons are registered in the Incorporated Trades Book between 1683 and 1835.

The other group of stonemasons were those who followed the large building projects (Churches and Castles). They were known as the Cathedral Builders and often lived ‘on the job’ in huts or bothys known as Ludges or Lodges. Eventually the Stonemasons Guilds became known as Lodges. The nearest Mason’s Lodge to Burntisland was the ‘Ludge of Dunfermling’ (Dunfermline) which was formed in the 16th Century. The earliest existing minutes of this Lodge, dated 1698, show that two of it’s members were from Burntisland. Gradually members of other trades and ‘gentry’ were accepted as ’speculative’ members of the Masonic Lodges.

Burntisland’s ‘Cathedral’ Burntisland Parish Church built 1592-1595 designed and built by John Roche, a Stonemason.

The combined insignia of the Hammermen, Wrights and Masons on a panel on the front of the north gallery in the church before it was replaced by separate panels in 1962.

Mason's marks from the south west pillar in the Parish Church.

Alexander Gibb - 1853 George Paxton 1848 A Hammerman

Masons’ gravestones in Burntisland Parish Churchyard

By the late 1850’s Burntisland had become a railway centre and a ferry terminus and the population had grown to almost 4000. This included a number of members of Masonic Lodges from other parts of Fife and Scotland. A dozen or more of these masons petitioned the Grand Lodge of Scotland to form a Lodge in Burntisland. They had the support of two sponsoring Lodges viz the Lodge of Kirkcaldie (No 72) and the Edinburgh & Leith Celtic Lodge (No 291) and so Lodge Dunearn was born.

Thomas Hutchison Burntisland Postmaster Second Right Worshipful Master

Master of Lodge from 1861 to 1871

Consecration of the Lodge took place on the 22nd of December 1859. A report in the Fifeshire Advertiser of the day's proceedings reads: "By 12 o'clock the Brethren of the mystic tie had assembled beside the Railway Station in front of the Forth Hotel to the round number of 100, accompanied by two bands of music, 26 flags and two banners. The dress and gawdy insignia of the Brethren presented a very imposing aspect." The procession then marched through the town to the Music Hall where the consecration meeting took place.

The Forth Hotel

Burntisland as a railway centre and a ferry terminus in the late 19th century

1959 Centenary Office Bearers

Back Row(L-R): S Bolam, J Thompson, J Simpson, G Hampton, W Peterson, J McDonald and A Duncan Front Row(L-R): T Chalmers, C Cummings, J Kilgour, R Watson and R Thomas

Throughout it’s history the membership of the Lodge has been representative of the social mix and industry of the town. Initially the membership included strong representation from the Railway and the Ferries, then the Docks, the Shipyard and the Alumina Works. More recently the membership has become more diverse. The Craft Guilds had a number of functions including controlling training for a trade (apprenticeships) and entry to it, the organisation and conditions of work and wages. They also had ‘social welfare’ functions, such as helping members who had fallen on hard times, helping to provide decent burials and giving support to their widows and orphans. These benevolent functions were carried over into the masonic Lodges. There are many examples of this in the minutes of earlier meetings of Lodge Dunearn, such as frequent references of support for the Burntisland Nursing Association. Text courtesy Bill Dewar.

www.dunearn.org.uk A browsing album is available for further information

From 1859 until 1884 the Lodge meetings were held in various establishments including the Forth Hotel, Music Hall, Royal Hotel, Town Hall, Golf Tavern etc.

In 1884 the Lodge rented the basement of the Free Church at the top of the Kirkgate. This became known as the Masonic Hall. In 1914 the Lodge purchased

the property at 22 and 24 Somerville Street. This was renovated in 1916 and the first meeting was held in the new Masonic Hall in Feb 1917. This is the

current home of Lodge Dunearn.

22 and 24 Somerville Street