The banner is an important emblem of the lodge, it both describes and forms the identity of the lodge.
For the lodge’s 150th Anniversary in 2023 it was decided to design a new banner that incorporated all the key elements of the previous banner that was presented to the lodge in 1955.
The key elements of the banner being the background colour, the gatehouse of the Havering Palace, the Leafy Mantle and the Square and Compasses
Havering Palace as a Royal residence was also known as a Bower.
When King Edward IV came out of the palace he saw a poor man in the road, not having his Almoner with him, he gave him his ruby ring. Havering Atte Bower – “Have ring at the Bower”, the ring can be seen at the base of the gateway connecting to a chain.
The green leafy mantle or wreath symbolises the close proximity of Epping and Hainault forests which were within the boundary of the Borough. The significance of the Square and Compasses is well known.
When considering the design for the new banner, it was important that we maintained a connection with the original banner as described above. The key differential for the new banner design is the three figures at the foot of the banner.
Each of these broadly represent 50 years of the Lodge’s history. The Lodge was founded by Romford market traders and businessmen in 1873- represented by the figure on the left. The silhouette of a soldier and the gravestone are in remembrance of Lt George Davis, a lodge member who was killed in action in Sept 1918.
The figure of the Rugby player represents 2012, a point in the lodges history where the lodge was considering handing back it’s warrant. At the time, a number of masons from Upminster rugby club were considering forming a rugby themed lodge. After hearing that a Lodge with a 140 year history was about to fold, discussions were held with Liberty of Havering Lodge and agreement reached that a number of masons would join and assist in rebuilding the lodge. 12 years later the lodge is flourishing.