Freemasonry has a long history in the Harrow area in fact, Harrow Lodge itself was formed in 1870. These are
records of a Lodge being held at the Chandos Arms in Edgware in the 1720’s and typically, the usual meeting
places in the Province were at Local hostelries. With the influence of the developing transport system in the
early part of this century, and the rapid urbanisation (or Sub-urbanisation) of the area, Freemasonry developed
rapidly and it become obvious that a dedicated Masonic Centre was needed.

In 1944, a meeting involving 52 Masonic organisations was held (this eventually became the Harrow District
Masonic Council) and a target figure of £30,000 was set to finance a new Masonic Centre. In 1946,
the old Vicarage site in Sheepcote Road was acquired and later the Herga Cinema. But planning permission
was withheld for both sites, which were later sold at a profit. It was not until 1953, that the
Northwick Sports Centre was purchased with a mortgage of £ 10,000. Planning permission was
subsequently obtained, and the Centre was opened in October 1954.

The Harrow Masonic Centre as it is today

At first, the existing building was adapted and eveloped to make it suitable for Masonic use. For example,
one squash court became a meeting room, another is now part of the bar and the tennis courts were
covered for parking. Various further changes have taken place over the years, the most significant
being the building of the principal meeting rooms in 1966.