Masonic Hall

The Masonic Hall in Taunton stands at the southern end of a terrace on The Crescent. Built in the early 19th century as St George’s Chapel, it was the first Roman Catholic church in Taunton open to the public after the Reformation. The building features a stucco front with Ionic pilasters framing the entrance and supporting a decorative cornice. Two pairs of pilasters flank the large double doors, topped by a pediment, with six steps leading up to them. On the southern side, more Ionic pilasters rise between four tall windows, giving the structure a symmetrical appearance. The hall is worth the journey because it tells two important stories in Taunton’s history. Originally a Catholic chapel, it served the growing Catholic community for over 35 years before they moved to a larger church in 1860. In 1878, Freemasons bought the building and converted it into a Masonic Hall, consecrated by the Earl of Carnarvon the following year. The Unanimity & Sincerity Lodge had met in Taunton since 1797, originally at the London Inn. Visitors find a building shaped by its past. The main hall has a robed chamber and waiting room, while the former vestry now includes a toilet. A two-storey extension from the 1880s once housed a warehouse, and later renovations added further facilities. Today, the hall hosts nine Masonic lodges, each with its own history, including the Lodge of St George and the Emergency Services Lodge. The architecture remains striking, with its Ionic pilasters and grand entrance steps, marking it as a Grade II* listed building.