The Mark degree in freemasonry, which greatly enhances a Craft masons’ understanding of operative masonry, has been practiced ... very successfully in Cheshire since 1872. The Provincial Grand Mark Lodge of Cheshire is one of the largest outside London, having 40 Mark and 24 Royal Ark Mariner Lodges under its authority. It continues in a very vibrant Province bringing friendship, knowledge and pleasure to all its’ members. Mark Masonry is the third largest degree in English Freemasonry. Its origins date back to the formation of Grand Mark Lodge in 1856, although Mark Masonry has been in existence from the second half of the eighteenth century. The headquarters of the Mark Degree in England is situated in St. James’s Street, London. His Royal Highness, Prince Michael of Kent is the Grand Master. The Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons comprises some 1556 Lodges within 42 Provinces in England and Wales, plus its Districts and Lodges overseas. Up to 1872, there had been no Provincial Grand Mark Lodge for the Province of Cheshire. The consecration of the Stamford Mark Lodge No.148 in March 1872, now meeting at Sale, brought the number of Mark Lodges in Cheshire at the time, to five the other four being Ashton District at Dukinfield, Benevolent No.69 (now Benevolent TI) at Stockport, Joppa 11 (now constituted T.I.) at Birkenhead, and Fidelity Mark No.31 also at Birkenhead. With the addition of North Wales, it was deemed desirable by several eminent Mark Master Masons, that a Provincial Grand Lodge should be established for the area of Cheshire and North Wales. In 1873 the Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Cheshire and North Wales was Constituted and Consecrated under the direction of the first Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro. The Hon. Wilbraham Egerton (later Earl Egerton of Tatton). The combined Province separated in 1880 and The Province of Cheshire as we know it today, was born. read more