The Freemasons' Tavern was established in 1775 at 61-65 Great Queen Street in the West End of London. It served as a meeting place for a variety of notable organisations from the 18th century until it was demolished in 1909 to make way for the Connaught Rooms.
In 1769, the Premier Grand Lodge of England decided to build a Central Hall. A building was purchased in Great Queen Street in 1775 and Thomas Sandby was tasked with building a hall in the garden. The original house became the tavern with a second house providing office space for the Freemasons. In 1813 the Premier Grand Lodge and rival Ancient Grand Lodge of England merged to form the United Grand Lodge of England.
The hall was not only used for Masonic purposes, but also became an important venue in London for a variety of meetings and concerts.[1] Organisations using the hall included:
- Political Economy Club
- African Institution
- British and Foreign Anti-Slavery Society,[1] for the World Anti-Slavery Convention in 1840[2]
- British and Foreign Bible Society[1]
- Highland and Island Emigration Society[3]
- The Football Association (FA) held its first meeting here on 26 October 1863