Early lodge room discovered?

The BBC is reporting about a secret room, shut for 400 years, that some think might have been a Masonic lodge room.

The entrance to the secret room was found inside a cupboard in a panelled room

A secret chamber, hidden for 400 years and with possible links to early freemasonry, has been discovered.

The entrance to the room, which has plastered walls, was found inside a cupboard at the National Trust-owned house Canons Ashby, near Daventry.
It is a panelled room with walls showing crests of local families and enigmatic symbols.
Laura Malpas, of the trust, said there was "speculation" the room had been an early masonic lodge.
Ms Malpas, community manager for the trust, said it was "a fascinating and puzzling space" with walls that include "frankly odd Latin texts".

The room's panelled walls include enigmatic symbols which may relate to freemasonry

"[They] tell the reader things such as 'Do not eat of those things with a black tail' or 'Check your tongue, your belly and your lust, the best thing is to enjoy someone else's madness'."
She said the house manager was Edward Bartlett made the discovery after deciding to investigate the cupboard while locking up for the night.
"With a torch he discovered an entrance to a small concealed chamber, hidden in the panelling of the room," she said.
"Clearly not a natural void left during the building process, this tiny chamber is floor boarded and the walls have been plastered from the inside to create a space that could hide a person and a sizeable amount of objects the owner of the house might want to keep hidden away from public view."
"It is believed the Dryden family may well have been part of a society that evolved into what we now recognise as the freemasons."
She added: "There has been speculation that this room was used as an early form of Masonic lodge before Freemasonry was established in England some 130 years later in 1717."
It would not have been a hole to hide priests as the Dryden family were puritans, she said.
The room is about 6ft (1.82m) high with 6ft (1.82m) by 5ft (1.52m) floor space.

Anderson's Constitutions

This copy of Anderson's Constituions is going under the hammer at Bloomsbury Auctions in London on February 28.

It is inscribed in the upper part of the cover: "The Gift of the Brethern of the Prestonian Lodge of Friendship to Br. John Coverdale as a Testimony of their Fraternal Regard Decr. 18 1798."

The pre-sale estimate is £350-£450.

The catalogue description reads: "Masonic Binding.- Anderson (James) Constitutions of the Antient Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, engraved frontispiece and arms to head of dedication, `Explanation of the Frontispiece` f., frontispiece stained and laid down, title stained, K2&3 trimmed or ?from another copy, some spotting, hinges neatly strengthened with thick tape, contemporary lightly diced calf with Masonic motifs and a gift inscription from the Prestonian Lodge, spine in compartments with a black morocco label (slightly chipped) and richly decorated with gilt masonic motifs, covers with border of masonic motifs within an outer scrolling border, spine chipped and repaired, corners worn, rubbed, 4to, J.Rozea, 1784. sold as a binding and not subject to return."

Globes go for £10K

This handsome pair of late Geroge III terrestrial and celestial globes by the well-known maker Cary sold at Dukes of Dorchester for £10,000.

They used the best information of the day including new discoveries made by Captain Cook. 

Gold for sale

These gold items including the Masonic jewel stamped "18ct" are going under the hammer at Bonhams auction house in Oxford.

There is no estimate attached to the lot, but it is being sold on behalf of Heart Research UK.

The other items are a signet ring stamped '18ct', two 22ct gold wedding bands, a further band ring, a single stone setting, a half sovereign and an ingot pendant. The total gross weight is 56.4gm.

The sale is on February 20.

Taylors workings...

This box - displaying the date 1670 - is to go under the hammer at Taylors Auction House in Montrose, Scotland.

And the pre-sale estimate is just £40-£60. Made from yew, it comes with two drawers and the lid is inlaid with a square and compass. It is 40.5 cm high and 77.5 cm long.

The sale is on Feb 9.

Surely there must be a lodge that could do with it.