Sam Bamber, prominent Victorian Freemason on The Fylde

In 1865, when Queen Victoria was on the throne, Freemasonry was in its infancy on the Fylde with only two lodges having been formed,

namely Clifton Lodge No 703 in Blackpool and Hesketh Lodge No 950 in Fleetwood.

Pictured are Brian Horrocks and Jim Bennett with the photograph of Sam Bamber.

In June 1865 a third lodge was consecrated in St Annes, the Lodge of Triumph No 1061. Four years later the Lodge of Fidelity No 1256, meeting in Poulton-le-Fylde, also received its warrant.

In those early days the brethren would attend their lodges using different forms of transport from today, probably on horseback, pony and trap, bicycle or even some travelling on foot.

All of these four early lodges had one thing in common, the name of Sam Bamber.  He was the most prominent Freemason of that era being at different times WM of all four lodges.  A watchmaker by trade he became the landlord of the No 4 public house in Blackpool which is also known as the Freemasons’ Arms.

Clifton, Hesketh and Fidelity Lodges all have framed photographs of Sam Bamber in their respective Masonic halls but not the Lodge of Triumph. However at the lodge’s installation meeting when Brian Horrocks became WM of the lodge Jim Bennett, past Master of the Lodge of Fidelity, repaired that loss by presenting a framed photograph of Sam Bamber to the lodge.  

Interestingly, Lodge of Fidelity still has a connection with the great man as Sam’s great grandson is a member of the lodge