I recently posted about the Livingstone Lodge Masonic Windows on Glasgow Road and now I have learned some new information, thought I’d post an update. I had previously been contacted by Graham Glen who told me his grandfather, James Benson had made the beautiful stained glass windows for the former building on Glasgow Road. Graham had wanted to know what became of them, and until recently I didn’t know, presuming they had been demolished along with the building itself in 1977.
In February 2017, I was contacted by Ean Brown, Bill Holdsworth and Bill Andrew, who each confirmed that the windows had been carefully removed in 1977 and at great expense of the lodge, had been fully renovated. The beautiful stain glass windows depicting various Lodge Members and Livingstone himself, were then inserted into the new brick Lodge at the bottom of Elm Street near the junction with Glasgow Road. The Windows would stay there until 1988, when the lodge was sold to be turned into flats.
Each window features coloured opaque glass of many colours. Red, browns, yellow, greens and blues. Amongst the masonic icons were images of Major Ness and Dr David Livingstone. Some are long and tall and have more than a hint of early art-deco about them.
Bill Andrew in 1988 took these amazing photos of the renovated windows, capturing their beauty, colours and regalia. Although his camera was pre-digital, Bill still managed to show the windows in detail. The windows were then carefully removed in 1988 and placed into storage.
Bill Andrew told me, “These were taken in 1988 whilst they were incorporated as feature glazing in the main hall of the lodge and was always considered one of the most beautiful temples in the area if not Scotland because of this. Sadly at that time the camera I had was fairly standard and the developing process not brilliant. I don’t know of anyone else having these. The windows are in storage in the cellar at the Masonic Lodge in High Blantyre where we now meet but what condition they will be in now is anyone’s guess as it is not heated and they haven’t been moved for many years. When we left the Glasgow Road building they were fully refurbished so they could be installed at Elm Street and I am sure you will agree they were absolutely beautiful. As I mention in my message the Glasgow Road building had a special aura when you walked and you truly felt the history in the building (at least I did) and a big part of this was the windows.”
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