On the 22nd of November 1825 several Master Masons living in the locality of Dingwall met in the Mackenzie’s Head Inn, then located off the main high street, now called Inchvannie Court, to consider the setting up of a Masonic Lodge in the town.
The Charter of the Lodge was granted in 6th of February 1826. Founders of Fingal Lodge No. 318, who appeared in the original Charter, were: -
Arthur Robertson (Dingwall)
Kenneth MacKenzie (Owner of the Head Inn)
John Hay (Builder Maryburgh)
John Mackenzie (Teacher Dingwall)
Samuel Munro (Mason Dingwall)
John Calder (Cabinetmaker Dingwall)
Donald Rose (Builder Dingwall)
By the end of the first year the Lodge’s membership had risen to 31, including 2 ministers of religion.
The Lodge held meetings until 1851 either in the Head Inn or the hotel owned by Kenneth Mackenzie Junior (now the Caledonian Hotel)
From 1851 to 1859 they met in rooms in Park House. From 1859 to 1870 they met in rooms in Warders Lane.
In the April 1870 plans were submitted for the building of a new Lodge, which was later to be the Picture House on the main High Street. Masonic symbols can still be seen carved into the stonework high above this building.
On Friday 8th October 1926 the foundation stone was laid in Lodge Fingals present home, records show that the cost of the building site was £75.00 and the total cost for the new building was £3,481,11-2
Laying of the Foundation Stone, Fingal Lodge No. 318
By Bro Sir Alex Gibb CBE, CB, Pro G.M.
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