Catalogue description Records of the Ancient Order of Druids, Coronation Lodge number 552, Lewes

AMS5979/1 Minutes of lodge meetings; 1907-1964

AMS5979/2 Minutes of the General Purposes Committee; 1927-1939

AMS5979/3 Minutes of the Lewes Druids' Club; 1957-1985

AMS5979/4 Minutes of the Wine Committee; 1962-1977

AMS5979/5 Register of officers; 1903-1920

AMS5979/6 Accounts; 1903-1978

AMS5979/7 Rule books and pamphlets; 1920-1961

AMS5979/8 Minutes of the Royal Arch Chapter number 32; 1926-1934

AMS5979/9 Printed material; 1907-1909

Documents deposited, 14 Nov 1986 (ACC 4749)

The Ancient Order of Druids was revived in 1781 as a modern version of an ancient order. Its aims were those of a friendly society with mystical overtones

The order was controlled by the Imperial Grand Lodge, 14/18 Lamb's Conduit Street, London, to which all lodges were affiliated

Druidism had three degrees: the Provincial Grand Lodge (which was elected by the local lodges), the Royal Arch Chapter (which consisted of druids who had been specifically recommended from the Primitive Degree and was governed by the Supreme Chapter in London - in 1927 the two Sussex branches were at Lewes and Brighton) and the Primitive Degree

The Coronation Lodge, Lewes was founded on 26 February 1903 and originally met at the Elephant and Castle Hotel. In December 1930 the lodge moved to new premises, which included a club, above the Beard's off-licence (now the Dilrajh Indian Restaurant) on the corner of Fisher Street and Market Lane