The first recorded meeting to form a Masonic Lodge in the Chorlton-cum-Hardy area was held on the 18th January 1871 at the Lloyds Hotel, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, under the Chairmanship of WBro. J.D. Kennedy. PPrGTreas (EL). It was agreed that application be made to Grand Lodge to form a new Lodge in the area, designated "Starkie Lodge", as the Provincial Grand Master of East Lancashire at that time was RW.Bro. Colonel Le Gendre Starkie and the completed Petition was duly submitted.
Twelve months later!!! in January 1872, the Petition was returned by the Provincial Grand Secretary of East Lancashire with a recommendation that application be made to West Lancashire Provincial Grand Lodge.
A new Petition was prepared and submitted with the recommendation that it would now be named Chorlton Lodge. This was agreed and Chorlton Lodge was given the No.1387. It was consecrated in the village school room of Chorlton-cum-Hardy on March 2nd 1872 by W.Bro. Thomas Wylie. PrGReg of the Province of West Lancashire.
The village was considered unsuitable for Masonic Meetings and application was made to rent accommodation at Athelstone House, High Lane, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, where the Lodge met until March 12th 1879, when it moved to the Masonic Hall, High Lane, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, where it remained for the next eighty years. During the summer of 1958 it was revealed that the High Lane, Masonic Hall Co. had entered into voluntary liquidation. The Lodge was fortunate to be offered temporary accommodation at Whithington Town Hall, where it remained for the next seven years before moving to the Urmston Masonic Hall. The first meeting held there was the Installation of Bro. Ernest Barlow WM on April 16th 1966.
During August 1970 it was learned that the Urmston Masonic Hall Co. had seriously underestimated the operating costs of the Hall and had run up a considerable overdraft. As a result of this Chorlton Lodge learned that the rental was to be increased by almost 300% above the 1969/70 season for the 1970/71 season. Application was then made to the Swinton Hall Co. to hold the meetings there, permission was granted so we once again packed our bags and moved from the South East Group to the Eccles Group, where remain today. A detailed booklet of the "First 100 years" is available for study
