Masonic Hall, Downton Abbey Filming Location

The exterior of the Masonic Hall in the Edwardian Town at Beamish Open Air Museum, which was a filming location for Downton Abbey the Movie. Originally it was built by St John’s Lodge of Sunderland, which had met in 14 different hotels and two other masonic halls between 1806 and 1870. In 1869 they laid the foundation stone with full masonic ceremony, moving into the building a year later. This was used by freemasons until the 1930s when a larger building was required.