Another Tripadvisor Choice Award for Bath’s Old Theatre Royal

The Old Theatre Royal and Masonic Museum, aka The Bath Masonic Hall, has, for the second year running, been awarded the Trip Advisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 2024.

This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the tour guides, who regularly show members of the public and fellow Freemasons around Bath’s palatial Masonic Temple. 

The tour encapsulates the three lives of the building.  It was built as a theatre, but not just any old theatre, it was The first Theatre Royal outside of London. 

Lord Nelson was a regular patron, who may only have had one eye, but it was, judging by his letters, firmly an eye for the ladies! 

It then became a Roman Catholic Chapel, but not just any old Roman Catholic chapel. 

It was the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Mission for the West of England and the base of a “restless priest”, Bishop Peter Augustine Baines – a Lancashire lad who became a “Prince Bishop” and who was nearly, but not quite, made the first post-Reformation English Cardinal, but who fell out with everyone, including one of the Popes who nearly gave him the sack!

And now it is the Masonic Hall.

Tour guiding is not only rewarding, but it is also a useful pastime. 

As a guide, Vince Baughan is often asked: “What is Freemasonry?” “Why did you become a Freemason?” “What do Freemasons do?”.  Answers to these questions help to dispel myths and conspiracies thus making the guides “Ambassadors for The Craft”.  Speaking personally, these questions help him to firm up in his mind what Freemasonry is, and what it means to him. 

Guiding also provides good practice for speaking in public, a skill which we all need when delivering ritual and speaking at the Festive Board.  You learn to project your voice and enunciate your words clearly – two essential skills in Freemasonry and indeed, in life generally.

Anyone can become a Guide at the Bath Masonic Hall.  It is not onerous, taking up just a couple of hours of your time in a week.  You don’t have to be a Bath Freemason to do it.  You don’t even have to live in Bath.  Over half the guiding team live outside of Bath, and one even comes all the way from Swansea!

If you are interested in becoming a guide, please email: media@oldtheatreroyal.com 

Training is provided, and they have occasional social get-togethers.