Celebrating 50 years

Celebrating 50 Years at The Knole – A Legacy in Stone

In 2008, Bournemouth Freemasonry celebrated a remarkable milestone: fifty years under one roof at The Knole. This is not just any building—it is a Tudor-Gothic, Arts-and-Crafts masterpiece, a Grade II listed gem, and one of the finest Victorian houses in Bournemouth. Designed by a leading architect of its time, and once home to Bournemouth’s first Member of Parliament, it is deeply woven into the fabric of local history.

Source – The Knole -50th Anniversary Book

The Knole: More Than a Hall

  • Architectural Brilliance: Built in 1872–73 by John Dando Sedding for Edmund Christy—founder of St Clement’s Church—the building is a superb example of early Arts-and-Crafts style with strong Tudor-Gothic influences. Its red brick with stone dressings, mullioned windows, ornamental ridges and tile-hung gables all contribute to its striking character. source
  • Heritage Protected: The Knole is officially Grade II listed. It is celebrated by architectural historians for its craftsmanship, decorative detail, and the quality of its materials and ornamentation. source
  • A Varied Life: Over the years it has served many roles—private residence, wartime Red Cross nursery for evacuated children, a hotel, and more. Then, in 1957, Bournemouth Freemasons acquired it (through Bournemouth Masonic Buildings Ltd), preserving not only the building itself, but many of its priceless features.
  • Boscombe’s Development: The Knole played its part in Boscombe’s growth. It sits in Knole Road, and its original owner, Christy, also funded St Clement’s Church nearby. When the gardens were later partially sold and developed, the site’s presence influenced the shaping of its surrounding neighbourhood. source

A Book for All – Mason and Non-Mason Alike

To mark this golden anniversary, Bournemouth Masonic Buildings Ltd has published The Knole: The Story of the Home of Freemasonry in Bournemouth by Michael Drayton. The book offers:

  • The full history of The Knole—its architecture, its patrons, its transformations.
  • The social background of the region, capturing what Boscombe and Bournemouth were like in Victorian and 20th-century times.
  • The development of Freemasonry locally—from the Lodge of Hengist in Christchurch through the dozens of Lodges now using Freemasons’ Hall.

Whether you are interested in architecture, local history, fraternal life, or just curious, this book brings together stories and photographs that appeal to all.

People of The Knole

Edmund Christy
Edmund Christy was the original owner and patron of The Knole. He came from a successful business family best known for hats and towels, which gave him the means for substantial philanthropic works. Around 1872–73, Christy commissioned John Dando Sedding to design The Knole, intending it as a grand family residence. His legacy reverberates in Boscombe: besides building The Knole, he financed the construction of St Clement’s Church, providing both the land and the funding, and ensured ongoing financial support for the nearby vicarage and parish buildings. Christy’s vision was not merely to erect a beautiful home, but to invest in the social and spiritual fabric of Boscombe.

John Dando Sedding
Sedding was among the notable architects of his day, especially in the Arts and Crafts movement. Employed by Christy, his design for The Knole blends Tudor-Gothic and Arts & Crafts elements: mullioned windows, steeply pitched roofs, decorative timber or tile-hanging, stone dressings, and high-quality craftsmanship throughout. The attention to detail is visible in every part of the house, down to mouldings, carpentry, and changes in texture between brick, stone, and wood.

John Toogood
As builder to Sedding’s designs, John Toogood was responsible for translating architectural plans into reality. His skill is evident in the structural integrity and fine finish of The Knole. Toogood also worked on other Christy-commissioned projects, notably St Clement’s Church, which means his handiwork helped shape several of the area’s most iconic buildings.

Sir Henry Page Croft (Lord Croft)
Sir Henry Page Croft was the first Member of Parliament for Bournemouth, serving from 1910. He inherited The Knole through his family (his mother Mary Isabella Cecil) and it was under the Croft family’s ownership that the house saw changes. Portions of the gardens were sold for housing, and the building itself adapted to new functions. Lord Croft was also involved in politics and public life, which tied the building into national as well as local significance.

The Many Lives of The Knole

From its very beginning The Knole has been a house of many chapters, each reflecting the changing life of Bournemouth and Boscombe.

It began in the 1870s as the elegant private residence of Edmund Christy, a wealthy Victorian philanthropist. Built with exceptional craftsmanship by architect John Dando Sedding and builder John Toogood, it was designed to be a statement of style and permanence. The Knole was not just a family home but a centre of social life, a place where the upper-middle class values of Victorian England found full expression in art, architecture and hospitality.

After Christy’s time, The Knole passed to the Croft family. Sir Henry Page Croft, who became Bournemouth’s first Member of Parliament in 1910, inherited the property. Under the Crofts the house remained a family home, but as the town expanded some of the extensive gardens were sold for new housing. The great house adapted quietly to the changing needs of a growing seaside resort while still retaining its grandeur.

During the Second World War, The Knole took on an entirely different role. Like many large houses across Britain, it was pressed into service for the national effort. Parts of the building became a military headquarters and an administrative centre, and it also provided a haven for children evacuated from cities under threat of bombing. The stately rooms that once hosted Victorian dinner parties now served as offices, dormitories and safe spaces, echoing with very different sounds.

In the post-war years, as economic and social realities shifted, The Knole found yet another purpose. It became first a children’s home and later a private hotel and boarding house. These uses kept the building alive and maintained at a time when many grand Victorian houses were falling into neglect or being demolished. Guests and residents enjoyed the generous rooms and the elegance of a house built on the very best Victorian principles.

Source – The Knole – Private Hotel

Everything changed again in 1957 when Bournemouth Freemasons purchased the property through Bournemouth Masonic Buildings Ltd. Their acquisition saved The Knole from likely demolition and preserved its unique architectural character and many of its fine interior artworks. Since then the building has been lovingly maintained as a Masonic Hall, hosting lodge meetings, charitable events, and open days for the wider community.

Today The Knole stands not only as the beating heart of Freemasonry in Bournemouth but also as a living chronicle of the town’s social history. From distinguished Victorian home to wartime refuge and finally to a centre of fellowship and charity, every period of its life adds depth and character to a building recognised by historians as one of Bournemouth’s most important Victorian treasures.

The Knole – The Story of the Home of Freemasonry in Bournemouth by Michael Drayton is available from Freemason’s Hall, Knole Road, Bournemouth – Please contact us to order a copy.