1 Belvidere Lodge 503 Consecrated 1844 The History and Content of the Lodge Banner
2 Belvidere Lodge 503 In 1844, Freemasons living in Maidstone decided there was a need to found a new Lodge to serve this area of Kent. The majority of these founders were members of The Royal Kent Lodge of Antiquity No. 20 in Chatham and received the support of this Lodge, in their application to Grand Lodge. This request was counter signed, by Joseph Ashley, Deputy Provincial Grand Master for Kent. The first choice of name by these founding members, was the Lodge of United friends, then altered to the Kentish Lodge of United Friends but as these was not supported by Grand Lodge, they finally agreed on the name of Belvidere Lodge. The reason for this final choice of name, was that the then Provincial Grand Master for Kent, was the Lord Saye and Sele, who lived at Belvidere House in the parish of Erith and he gave his permission for the new Lodge to be named after his house. The house had this name when it was first built in 1740. It was then virtually rebuilt and enclosed in a walled park in 1764. The name Belvidere, is taken from the Italian language meaning beautiful view The Lord Saye and Sele family became owners of Belvidere House, in 1824 and in 1844 on the death of the 14 th Lord, who was also a Freemason, it passed to the 15 th Lord Saye and Sele, who was, as mentioned earlier, the Provincial Grand master of Kent. Belvidere Lodge No. 741 was consecrated at the Star Hotel High Street Maidstone on Tuesday 3 rd December 1844, with 13 founders. The new Belvidere Lodge No. 741 took as its Banner, the Crest of the then 15 th Lord Saye and Sele.
3 Belvidere Lodge 741 was re-numbered in 1863 at the closing up of the Lodges as 50 Belvidere Lodge Banner. The Provincial Grand Master of Kent, in 1844, was The Hon. William Thomas Eardley- Twistleton- Fiennes, the 15 th Lord Saye and Sele 1844 1847. The home of the Fiennes family has always been Broughton Castle, near Banbury in Oxfordshire, which has been in continues use since 1200. The recorded history of the Castle is: By the Broughton family 1200 to 1400. The Wykeham family 1400 to 1470. The Fiennes family 1470 to 1680. The Twisleton Fiennes family 1680 to 1844. The Eardley Twisleton Fiennes family 1844 onwards. The Fiennes name originates from and can be traced back to the village of Fiennes, which is part of Flanders in North France. Therefore the main interest, in relation to the Belvidere Lodge Banner, is the history of the Fiennes family and also a certain William de Say.
4 William de Say was a companion of William the Conqueror and took part of the invasion of England in 1066. As time progressed a relation to William was a Geoffrey de Saye, who was one of the 25 Barons who forced King John to sign the Magna Carta in 1215. More time progressed and in the early fourteen hundreds, James Fiennes who was a Soldier and Politician became Sheriff of Kent and also Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. Having fought at Agincourt and in Normandy, he made a fortune which he then used to build the first Knole House, near Seven Oaks in Kent. In recognition for his service to the Crown, he became the first Baron Saye and Sele in 1447. Why Saye and Sele? He took the Saye part of the title, from claiming to be a distant relation to the original Baron Say, mentioned earlier and the Sele from a Priory in Kent, located in what is now the village of Seal, and close to his home Knole House on the outskirts of Seven Oaks. Two years on, he was appointed Lord Chamberlain and Lord Treasurer to King Henry VI in 1449. Unfortunately James Fiennes was beheaded by Jack Cade on the 4 th July 1450 Jack Cade led a rebellion of the men of Kent and attacked London which resulted in the King fleeing to Warwickshire After Jack had taken and looted London the King had raised an army and soon returned. The rebellion was defeated at the battle of London Bridge and scatted The Fiennes family remained prominent in high circles and in 1613 a William Fiennes became the Baron Saye and Sele. He was a prominent supporter of Charles the 1 st during the civil war.
5 It is well documented on him being responsible for raising an army and occupying Oxford, which became a Royal stronghold during the civil war. William son of James 1 st Viscount Saye and Sele stood up for the army in its struggle with Parliament in 1647 On the death of Charles the 1 st in 1649 he retired into private life On the death of Cromwell in 1658 he was involved in the restoration of Charles the 2 nd back on to the throne and was rewarded by becoming a Privy Counsellor. Following this period, the Viscount s of Saye and Sele, became extinct in 1681 and the title passed on to Sir John Twisleton, due to him marring the daughter of the 2 nd Viscount Saye and Sele in 1682. The family name then became Twisleton-Fiennes We now move closer to the Belvidere Banner. William Twisleton Fiennes 1798-1847, the 15 th Lord Saye and Sele, married the daughter of the Earl of Eardley and changed his name to William Thomas Eardley-Twisleton-Fiennes, in respect to his wife s family. At the time of Belvidere Lodge coming into being, in 1844, as was mentioned earlier, he was the Provincial Grand Master for Kent and lived at Belvidere House Erith Kent. The content and meaning of the Belvidere Lodge Banner.
6 In a clockwise direction: The 1st and 4th Quartering are the arms of the Fiennes family: Set on a field azure (blue), this donates Loyalty and Truth. 3 lions rampant in OG (gold) symbolises a Valiant Warrior / Dauntless Courage. The 2 nd Quartering is the arms of the Twistleton family: Set on a field of argent (silver), this donates Peace and Sincerity. A chevron (black) signifies the Roof of the House that believes in Consistency. The 3 Beavers sable (black) stand for Industry and Perseverance. The 3 rd Quartering is the arms of the Eardley family as part of the Saye and Sele family: Set on a field of argent (silver), this donates Peace and Sincerity. A chevron azure (blue) signifies the Roof of the House that believes in Loyalty and Truth. 3 garbs (wheat sheaves) OG (gold) symbolises The Harvest of One s Hopes has been Secured A fret of the third (gold), that stands for a Heraldic True Lovers Knot, on a canton gules (red) magnanimity - (generosity / noble). At the chief point is a crescent, a cadence mark denoting Second Son. The motto: Fortem Posce Animum (Pray for a Brave Sole).
7 Lord Saye and Sele to-day The 17 th Baron Saye and Sele, was a John Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes 1830-1907. His second son became the 1 st Baronet Sir Eustace Edward -Twisleton-Fiennes 1866. During his career he became a well-known Soldier, then a Politician and then appointed as a Colonial Administrator. He died in 1943 and unfortunately his son the 2 nd Baronet died that same year. The Title, 3 rd Baronet, was inherited by his grandson, on his birth in 1944. His full name is Sir Randulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes Who has become the famous explorer Sir Randulph Fiennes. As a footnote he is related to the actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes Source Material Belvidere Lodge 503 Consecration 1844 1. Original documents of founding members supplied by U.G.L.E.
8 2. Documents in Belvidere archives / records. Belvidere House 1. Information in Belvidere archives. 2. Information obtained from the Saye and Sele Lodge No. 1973. Say and Sele Lodge met in the Belvidere House old stable block from 1844 up to 1962. The house was demolished in 1978. Content of Banner 1. Pamphlet found in Belvidere archives. 2. Information on several web sites. Say and Sele family history. 1. Information available on several web sites. Derek Warren Secretary: Belvidere Lodge of Instruction