Masons are famous for their ability to safely keep their secrets, but the Masonic temple at the Andaz hotel turned out to be so secret and hidden so securely that even the Masons themselves forgot about it. For many years it was walled up in the bowels of a massive building, until it was accidentally discovered during renovations.
The Great Eastern Hotel was built in London next to Liverpool Street train station in 1884. It was one of the first hotels built specifically for passengers. The imposing building with luxurious interiors was supposed to show the brilliant prospects of the rapidly developing railroad transport. And this corresponded to the actual state of affairs - the value of shares of railway companies at that time was growing by leaps and bounds.
The tourism industry flourished, with many hotels sprung up all over the city, among which fierce competition began. In addition, cars soon began to replace the railway, becoming the main mode of transportation. The age of super expensive luxury hotels is over. By the 20s of the twentieth century, the "Great East" fell into disrepair, turning into a dusty and shabby old mansion.
Nearly a century later, the luxury hotel trend has returned. The building, built 150 years ago, automatically fell into the category of historical landmarks and was bought by the international hotel corporation "Hyatt". The new owners decided to promote the hotel under the Andaz brand, which means “Own style” and involves the creation of interiors with a unique innovative design.
The "Great East" found a new destiny thanks to the designer Terence Konrad, who developed an ambitious and distinctive project for the building. However, during construction work, engineers noticed a significant discrepancy between the blueprints and the actual layout. And then, something more like a scene from an adventure movie happened. When one of the walls was dismantled, which was supposed to open the passage to the hallway, as indicated in the plan, the builders rested against a massive double door. And behind it opened a huge and incredibly exquisite Masonic temple.
The opulent interior included an organ, massive carved mahogany chairs, and bronze candelabra on stands in the form of lion paws. No less than 12 different types of Italian marble were used in the decoration. The green and gold dome is decorated with a five-pointed "flaming star" enclosed in a zodiac circle. All other ritual elements that are mandatory for a classical Masonic temple: columns, a mosaic floor, the Grand Master's chair-throne - everything has been preserved intact. The complex structure of the temple was crowned with the slogan "Audi Vide Tace" ("Hear to See to Silence") - one of the official slogans of the United Grand Lodge of England, inscribed above the throne of the Grand Master.
Promotional video:
Setting up a Masonic temple in a hotel is something completely inappropriate for modern British Masons. They have quite enough of their own stationary temples, located in separate buildings. For 19th century Great Britain, the idea of a temple in a hotel was also unusual, but at the same time it was not accidental. Railway hotels have developed a wide range of value-added services to compete for customers. The presence of a Masonic lodge was a significant plus, since it attracted respectable and solvent gentlemen to the number of guests.
The sensational discovery prompted journalists and historians to turn to the archives. And as is most often the case with Masons, the "great secrets" are easily revealed to those who purposefully seek answers to their questions. Soon, documents were found, from which it became known that the so-called Masonic "Greek Temple" in 1912 was designed by the architect Charles Barry Jr. His father, also an architect, Charles Barry, went down in history as the creator of the British Parliament building.
Researchers even found a construction estimate, from which it became known that £ 50,000 was spent on the construction of a Masonic temple in the hotel, which is equivalent to four million pounds in today's prices.
It also became known that meetings were held in this temple under the chairmanship of the Grand Master, the Duke of Connaught, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth. There is even a bust of him in the temple.
A bust of the Grand Master, the Duke of Connaught, who sat in this box.
The Hyatt managers took advantage of the unexpected "gift" creatively. The refurbished Greek Hall can now be rented for a variety of exclusive events. Forbes magazine immediately included this place in the ten most fashionable places in London.
Masquerades, model photo shoots, video shootings, negotiations, presentations and receptions take place here. But more often than not, it is a candlelit dinner in a mysterious atmosphere filled with an amazing history for a small but worthy company.
Meeting of the St. Laurence Lodge # 5511 in the Andaz Hotel.
