The Polytechnic Lodge

The Polytechnic Lodge is arranging an East End Masonic walking tour on a late Sunday afternoon, learning about famous cases of murder, wickedness and scandal involving Freemasons good and bad.

The tour includes

The Kray twins and a feared Masonic Detective

The Masons at the siege of Sidney Street

Jack the Ripper of Jack the Mason? Visit the first murder scene.

The Elephany man and his masonic saviour.

The Royal London Hospital and its Masonic Links.

How early forensic science sent a Mason to the gallows.

The mysterious death of a Masonic millionaire.

Tales of sex and scandal.

Our guide will be the published Author, Mason and retired New Scotland Yard Detective Chief Inspector Mike Neville. He is an expert on the history of the Craft and crime. He is also world renowned for his ability to catch criminals with CCTV using ‘Super Recogniser’ officers. Worshipful Brother Mike will guide us through the streets of Whitechapel, taking us back in time…

Slow pace, lots of stops

The tour starts and concludes at The Blind Beggar, Whitechapel.

The Blind Beggar was built in 1894 on the site of an inn which had been established before 1654, and named after the famous ballad.

In 1865, William Booth preached his first open-air sermon outside the Blind Beggar, which led to the establishment of the East London Christian Mission, later to become the Salvation Army. William Booth is commemorated by a nearby statue.

The Blind Beggar is notorious for its connection to East End gangsters the Kray Twins On 9 March 1966, Ronnie Kray shot and murdered George Cornell, an associate of a rival gang, the  Richardsons, as he was sitting at the bar. The murder took place in the then saloon bar.

Full details of the tour, which will be open to all our members, our partners, and potential candidates will be posted on the Lodge WhatsApp group chat. The tour is conditional of no less than 20 attending. The cost will be  £12.50 per person.