Churchill's masonic writing desk

The 50th anniversary of Winston Churchill's death has recently been remembered.

Back in 2008, his masonic writing case came up for auction and sold for more than twice the top end of the estimate.

This was how Mail online reported it...

Winston Churchill's Freemasons writing case containing two of his Masonic ritual books is to be sold at auction, it was revealed today.

The portable leather satchel that belonged to the former prime minister is inscribed with the name of Churchill's lodge – the Studholme Lodge No. 1591, in London.

Sworders auction house in Stanstead Mountfitchet, Essex, is selling the item, which has been estimated to fetch £300–£500.

Winston Churchill's Freemasons writing case is estimated to fetch up to £500 at auction

Guy Schooling, a partner in the firm, said: "It is a privilege to be selling something that belonged to the great war leader.

"This case is dated not long after Churchill returned from the Boer War and he had it while he was writing the acclaimed biography of his father."

Churchill was initiated into the Freemasons in 1901 when he was a member of parliament.

Shortly after being presented with the writing case, he set about writing the biography of his father Randolph.

Former prime minister William Churchill was initiated into the Freemasons in 1901

The case was bought from the daughter of a Mr Robert Evans who acquired it in the late 1960s from a member of Churchill's followers who had been presented with it after the former premier's death.

Mr Schooling said: "The tan exterior is stamped in gilt with the words 'Bro. Winston L. S. Churchill, Studholme Lodge No. 1591'.

"In itself it is not much, but because of the person who owned it is very collectable. Churchiliana is always popular."

The ritual books can be found within special pouches in the purple, leather interior and contain the words for the first three degrees of freemasonry: initiation, passing and raising.

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