Gillingham Lodge of Benevolence, No. 184, Gillingham

Annual returns giving names, professions and residence of members of the Gillingham Lodge of Benevolence [Antients] and general correspondence relating to the running of the lodge. Year 1796 is not extant.

The Gillingham Lodge of Benevolence No. 184 was established in 1787 and met at the Crown and Thistle, High Street, Chatham. In 1819 the lodge was named the Royal Marine Lodge and started to meet at the Chest Arms Tavern, High Street, Chatham. In 1820 the lodge was renamed the Globe Lodge. In 1824 the lodge united with the Royal Marine Lodge No. 328, of the Chest Arms Tavern, Chatham and the Lodge of Harmony, No. 403, of the Queen's Head, High Street, Old Brompton. After uniting the lodge met at the Castle Tavern, High Street, Chatham and was renamed the United Globe Lodge. The lodge was renamed again in 1825, becoming the United Chatham Lodge. The lodge continued to meet in Chatham until 1837 when it moved to the City Coffee House, High Street, Rochester, Kent. The following year the lodge returned to Chatham, meeting again at the Chest Arms Tavern in the High Street.

In 1845 the lodge was renamed the United Chatham Lodge of Benevolence and in 1856 the lodge left Chatham and moved to Old Brompton, Kent, meeting at the Golden Lion Inn, High Street. It continued in Old Brompton until 1870 when it moved to the Masonic Temple, Park Street, New Brompton, Kent. In c. 1905 the lodge moved from New Brompton to Gillingham and in 1905 it was renamed the Gillingham Lodge of Benevolence. The lodge now meets at the Masonic Hall, Franklin Road, Gillingham. The lodge was issued its centenary warrant on the 14 February 1888 and was granted a Bi-Centenary Warrant on the 12 December 1987.