Perhaps the best place to start is by trying to describe the world of 1894 and to set the scene for the beginning of Wirral Lodge.  Queen Victoria was on the Throne of England, the Industrial Power of the World. A lot of the raw materials and finished products of the industry passed through the ports of Mersey side, bound for every country of the empire and beyond. The number of people passing through Liverpool bound for America was huge and at that time Mersey side must have been one of the crossroads of the world.

The main item of international news of the time might be considered to be the granting of the vote to the women of New Zealand which was the first country to do so. One of the main local items was the appointment of an electrical engineer to supervise the installation of electrical mains and street lighting

Cheshire, being the oldest Province, was founded in 1725 shortly after the formation of United Grand Lodge but there is evidence of masonry existing in Cheshire long before this date. One of the earliest mentions of “Lodge” occurs in the record of the building of Vale Royal Abbey near Frodsham in 1277. Masonry started in Birkenhead with the formation of the Mersey Lodge No.477 in 1846 at “the Market Inn in the township of Brkenhead”.  Shortly afterwards the first meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge took place in Birkenhead in 1846.  By the time that Wirral Lodge came into being Masonry in Birkenhead was Flourishing and it became the seventh oldest Craft Lodge meeting in the town and the fifth one to be consecrated in Birkenhead. 

Although the local press mentions the consecration of the Wirral Lodge, the Masonic event that was covered in greater detail that week was The “Masonic Charity Ball”  held at the “Music Hall”. This article which is to be found in the Birkenhead News dated February 10th. 1894 is quite full and detailed and most interesting to read.  Besides listing some of the Lodges represented including Wirral, it even goes so far as to note the dances.  What perhaps makes it more readable is the dated but eloquent language of the day and this also applies to the old minute books.

For the next ten years nothing of note appears to have happened.  The Lodge functioned normally and smoothly.  When looking through the equipment of the Lodge there is one item that appears curious.  In a purpose built wooden box is a gavel made of stone from King Solomon’s mine which was donated to the Lodge just after the Great War.

The first international Scout Jamboree was held in Arrowe Park in February 1929.  It is sometime suggested that Birkenhead was chosen for this event as it could be considered as the birth place of the whole of the Scout movement.  One thing that did happen at this event was that the Masons of Birkenhead gave a reception for the visiting Brethren who were attending the Jamboree.  Of cause the local press noted the occasion and in the library in Oliver Street a full list of the overseas Brethren can be seen.  In the Birkenhead news of the time was a photograph of the brethren attending the reception and the then Wor.Master of the Wirral Lodge would be on it as the representative of one of the Lodge that contributed funds to cover the expenses of the occasion.

The circular of the Lodge has gone through a number of changes over the years.  It appears that in 1929 the Lodge was instructed to include on its circular a list of the Officer of the Lodge.  Another major change occurred with the omission of the two columns on which the name of the Past Masters were noted, it is to be assumed that in time this list became too long to be presented on the columns and the present listing system was adopted instead.  During the Second World War due to the restriction on printing, the circular changed frequently and appeared in a reduced form.

After the end of the war it took some time for things to get back to normal and in the war time most Lodges had to forgo their Ladies socials.  In 1948 Wirral joined with Joppa Lodge to hold a Ladies Social.  An example of the hard times still prevailing was a letter received regarding “fuel saving” at Gorsey Hey Hostel.  The same year the King and Queen had their Silver Wedding and the Craft presented them with a gift to mark the occasion.

As previously mentioned, in 1949 Wor.Bro.Summer was elected to the office of Master and at the Installation there were a number of the Provincial Officer from the District of Egypt and Sudan and telegrams of congratulations were received from his previous Lodge in Port Said, Suez and Flamagusta.  It was at the same meeting that the Lodge learnt of the promotion of Wor.Bro.F.J.Lee to Grand Rank, which gave great pleasure to the Brethren as he was the first Past Master of Wirral to receive this Honour, he later became the Provincial Grand Master of Mark Masons.  A few years earlier the following appeared in the minutes:- “On behalf of the Pelisium Lodge No.3003 , of the District of Egypt and Sudan the Wor, Master presented a Grand Lodge Certificate to Bro.W.E.Veich” and on a number of occasions the Lodge was attended by Brethren from Egypt.

The Seventies saw the initiation of the present Treasurer and Secretary of the Lodge Wor.Bro. Ellison and London.  The history is now within the bounds of the memory of a number of Brethren and some items briefly mentioned in the minutes can be expanded upon.  Something which we now take for granted came into being in 1972 and effected the finance of the Lodge, the dreaded V.A.T..  It appears that in 1974 the Lodge reach another milestone for the second time a Brother attained 50 years as a member of the Lodge Wor.Bro.Leslie Hughes P.G.D.who had been Wor.Master forty years earlier and in recognition of his service to the Lodge was invited to become an honorary  Member which he accepted with pleasure.  As previously stated the Lodge came to Clifton Road in 1971.

In the year 1120 RANDEL de MESCHINES, EARL OF CHESTER , created ALAN SYLVESTER chief forester of the forest of Wirral, and granted to him the manors of Hooton, Storeton and Puddington to hold on condition that he performed the duties of forester and in addition that he blew or caused to be blown a horn at the GLOVERSTONE in CHESTER on the morning of every fair day, to indicate that the tool on all goods bought or sold in the city or within the sound of that horn belonged to the Earl or his tenants.

ALAN SYLVESTER was succeeded by his son, RALPH, on whose death, being without issue, HUGH CYVELIOC, EARL OF CHESTER, granted the same manors with the forestship to ALEXANDER de STORETON on his marriage with ANNABELLA the daughter of ALAN SYLVESTER.  ALEXANDER de STORETON again had only female issue and the forestship passed next to SIR THOMAS BAMVILLE who married AGNES de STORETON daughter of ALEXANDER.

SIR PHILIP BAMVILLE, the heir of SIR THOMAS, also left issue, three daughters only, the eldest JANE married SIR WILLIAM STANLEY and brought the forestship as part of her dowry, the title of her son JOHN STANLEY having been proved in 1346 before JORDON de MACCLESFIELD, Justice in Eyer to the EARL of CHESTER.