From Henley to Abingdon: A Memorable Lodge Visit

Last night was one of those evenings that reminds you exactly why we love being part of this journey.

A group of us from Henley made our way over to Abingdon to visit Abbey Lodge, who meet in the incredible Guildhall right in the heart of town. From the moment we arrived, you could feel the history in the walls — this isn’t just any meeting place.

The main chamber, where the lodge meeting takes place, is steeped in tradition, and the evening flowed seamlessly from ceremony into the festive board. Afterwards, we were lucky enough to dine in one of the Guildhall’s most remarkable rooms — a space with roots going all the way back to the 1400s, later transformed into the stunning 17th-century setting we see today. It’s the kind of place you simply wouldn’t get to experience in everyday life.

That’s one of the real highlights of Freemasonry — not just visiting other lodges across Oxfordshire, but stepping into hidden corners of history that most people never get to see.

To top it all off, one of our members walked away with a win in the raffle (always a bonus!), and the evening was filled with great conversation, plenty of laughs, and a genuinely warm atmosphere. After a fantastic meal and even better company, we made our way back to Henley — already looking forward to the next visit.

Nights like this really do make it all worthwhile.