The History of Temple Manor Lodge

In January 1965, at the Installation Meeting of Eton Lodge No. 2458, the Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Howard G. Potts, remarked that the period of fifteen years taken to attain the Master’s Chair was far too long. He recommended that consideration should be given to sponsor a daughter Lodge. 

At the 15th October 1966 meeting of Eton Lodge, a Petition was presented to sponsor a new lodge to be called Temple Manor Lodge. The founders sought to relate the lodge with South Buckinghamshire and in particular with High Wycombe. In mediaeval times the Wycombe area was held under three Manors, that of Temple, Loakes and Bassettbury. Temple Manor occupied the West Central area and this, with the masonic relevance of that name, was the deciding factor in the name receiving the approval of the seventeen founders; nine of whom came from Eton Lodge. 

In the 14th to 16th Centuries Temple Manor Farm formed a large area of Temple End in High Wycombe as we know it today. In 1862 Temple Manor House was converted into farm residences. Early Ordnance Survey maps clearly mark the site as a farm, but by 1898 it is shown as a factory site. We know that in 1883 the Thomas Glenister Furniture Factory and Parker Knoll, (along with other smaller factories), occupied the farm site. By 1996 all the factories were demolished and planning permission was given to Morrisons to build the supermarket that stands today.