Summer Renovations

Over the summer recess some major renovations have been carried out both within and outside the building.

Outside the building the wrought iron railings have been completely stripped, rust proofed and repainted and all the sash windows have also been completely stripped, preserved and repainted.

The temple ceiling had to be replastered in areas due to water damage and therefore had be entirely repainted. The major change within the temple was the lighting where by we felt that the previous fluorescent lighting was to harsh and more importantly was not in keeping with the temple itself. The four fluorescent lights have since been removed and replaced with two magnificant chandaliers, and these give the temple a far more atmospheric and dramatic look and feel and are completely in keeping with this magnificant temple, as can be seen from the pictures below.

The back (harmony) room has been completely revamped from head to toe. The ceiling has been repatched and painted and for those of you who can remember the 80's style metallic wallpaper and bamboo blinds these are nothing but a distant memory. The walls have been completely stripped back and replastered and bracing has been placed on the walls for the preperation of the oak panelling.

The following picture sees the oak panelling dressed on the walls. Each of the panels have been individually hand cut and recessed to make sure that the beauty of the natural grain is consistent throughout the panel. At this stage the walls have had their first coat of paint and this brings out the lustre of the blue plaster crest of No.7. The original doors are also being prepared for the oak veneer panelling and the bay windows also recieve their complement of panelling in order to keep the flow of the room just so.

The old storage cupboards are now being dressed inside in oak as these will now serve as display cabinets for the numerous lodge artifacts that we have. The room by now has now had its second coat of paint and all the framework and beading for the oak panelling is virtually complete and the room is really starting to look more complete.

The room has now received its final coat of paint, the oak panelling has been completly waxed, not varnished, in order to preserve the natural look and feel of the wood itself. The bamboo style blinds have been replaced with rich velvet curtians and and again the fluorescent lights have been replaced with chandaliers, again more in keeping with this type of room. The blank area directly below the lodge crest will soon be replaced with multiple oak panels which will house a complete list of the previous 314 masters who have presided over this lodge.

The room is still not complete however and we will keep you posted on the further enhancements we will make to this room, which are due to take place before the annual ceromony of installation on the 25^th November.

Special thanks must be made to Bro. Ian D. Gordon IPM, who was essentially the project manager for all these works and could not have been completed without him. Ians keen eye for detail has certainly been to the enhancement of No.7 and we can only thank him greatly for his very hard work and dedication on this.