The Royal Alfred Lodge was warranted on 3rd December 1837, and the first meeting was held at the Angel Inn in Guildford on 8th December of the same year. At the time of its consecration, it was numbered 655, but it was not named until the meeting on 11th May 1838, when it was resolved to name the Lodge “The Royal Alfred Lodge.”
The centenary book records that the last meeting of the original Lodge was held on 6th March 1846. The Grand Lodge records the erasure of Lodge No. 655 on 1st June 1853, noting that the Lodge had neglected for a considerable period to make any returns or communications to the Grand Lodge, despite repeated requests. It was therefore resolved that the Lodge be erased from the Books of the Grand Lodge, and the Warrant was declared forfeited.
Having held 63 regular meetings and counted 66 members in total, the Lodge faded into history, with the cause of its demise unknown.
It is noteworthy that many of these former members later became Mayors of Guildford. To provide context, at this time, Guildford’s population was approximately 8,000.
The extension of the London and South Western Railway into Guildford in 1845 was probably the most significant development of the Victorian era. This may help explain why key members of Lodge 655 were unable to continue dedicating significant time to the business of the Lodge. It is likely that many of its members were heavily involved in the business of the town. During this period, the coaching inn era ended with the advent of the railway, but Guildford’s other industries prospered, and new ones emerged.
Following a petition to the Most Worshipful Grand Master, the Earl of Zetland, a new Warrant was issued on 28th January 1859 (A.L. 5859), and the first meeting of the new Royal Alfred Lodge No. 1079 was held at the Angel Inn, Guildford, on 9th May 1859. Five of the seven petitioners, who gathered at Weybourne House, were former members of the previous Lodge.
On 18th August 1863, a communication from the Grand Lodge of England announced that the number of the Lodge had been changed from 1079 to 777. This communication was read and ordered to be recorded. The re-numbering of Lodges occurred due to the fact that over 300 Lodges had lapsed since 1832.
Royal Alfred Chapter No. 777 was consecrated on 30th May 1893.
The Lodge regularly met at the Angel Inn until 16th January 1902, when the Lodge room was deemed in such a state of untidiness and discomfort that a proposal was carried to move the Lodge to the Lion Hotel. After receiving dispensation from the Provincial Grand Master on 20th March 1902, meetings moved to the Lion Hotel. The Lodge then met at various locations, including the Lion Hotel, the Masonic Hall on Onslow Street, Brett’s Restaurant, Borough Hall on North Street, Holy Trinity Hall, Abbot’s Kitchen Restaurant, The Albion Hotel in Woking, and in 1948, it settled at the Masonic Centre in Weybourne House. This location remained until the centre closed, and the new Masonic Centre was opened in January 2006, consecrated by the Provincial Grand Master, the Right Worshipful Brother Lieutenant Colonel D. A. M. Phipps.
In 1925, the Royal Alfred Lodge was recorded as one of the Founding Lodges of the Freemasons’ Hospital and Nursing Home, which later became the Royal Masonic Hospital.
In 2009, the Royal Alfred Lodge celebrated its 150th anniversary.
In 2025, the Royal Alfred Lodge is a thriving organization with around 25 active members. The Lodge is well-known for the high standard of ritual performed by its members, who are dedicated to maintaining the traditions of Freemasonry. Regular meetings and a strong sense of camaraderie ensure that the Lodge remains an important part of the local Masonic community. Its members continue to uphold the values of Freemasonry through both their commitment to the Lodge and their involvement in various charitable efforts.