The Fire - July 10th 1999

At approximately 4.30pm on Saturday 10th July 1999, the Fire Brigade were called to the Saffron Walden Masonic Hall in Church Street Saffron Walden. On their arrival they found the whole roof and upstairs areas of the centre ablaze. Calling for urgent assistance they were eventually joined by others until a total of five appliances and a turntable ladder were in attendance.

Fire officers entered the building with breathing apparatus but had to withdraw after only a short time because of the intensity of the heat and the very real danger of the roof collapsing. Eventually the fire was controlled but the Fire Crews had to remain in attendance late into the night and returned again the following morning for further dampening down procedures and to carry out the fire investigation.

 
John Emmerick Chairman of the Walden Freemason's Hall Association received a telephone call shortly after the Brigade was called and was in attendance throughout. He said "You can imagine when I arrived and saw the extent of the fire, I realised just how much of our history and building was going to be lost and I have to admit I was in tears at the sight of this".
"The whole of the upstairs and roof area has been lost to the fire, the Temple and its contents completely destroyed. Most of the Robing Room was devastated by either the fire or from water and smoke damage. The dining room ceiling is down and every where in the building is damaged by one means or another.   Some of the various Lodges' regalia has been saved from the fire but all will need cleaning or some attention".
The Saffron Walden Freemason's Hall Association has secured temporary accommodation at The Saffron Hotel and they are confidant that all the Lodges that usually meet in Saffron Walden will stick together in this moment of trouble.

The Association is making a video for future historical purposes and a record of how they recover from this terrible event.

Report based on the article from the Autumn edition of the Essex Mason