Freemasonry has been brought to book, thanks to a generous donation from a former member.
Earlier this month, a newly refurbished library and museum was opened at the Sindlesham-based Berkshire Masonic Centre by Anthony Howlett-Bolton OBE.
Dignitaries in the audience on Friday, May 3, included borough mayor Cllr John Kaiser – who had just been re-elected earlier in the day – and Sir David Wootton.
The library is said to be one of the biggest and best outside of London and is open to anyone who wants to find out more about Freemasonry in England. There is a particular emphasis on Berkshire.
The collection includes more than 20,000 books, including some very rare editions.
There are also more than 3,000 certificates, prints, postcards, photographs and archival items, and a recently acquired stamp collection all in the museum and the custodians are constantly adding to it. The museum is also supported by a reference database with 90,000 records.
Some of the items are more than 200 years old and…
