Masonic Hall, High Street, Bangor

The Masonic Hall, in High Street, was erected at a considerable cost by Col. Henry Platt, and opened in 1882. Here the Royal Leek Lodge, the St. David’s Lodge and the Star of Gwynedd Chapter meet; the hall also contains the offices of the County Court and of the Inland Revenue. [Slater’s Directory of Mid and North Wales.  1895]

The Masonic Hall is a commanding structure, and occupies a site, leased from the Penrhyn estate, in the business centre of Bangor, being almost opposite the Old Bank The style of architecture is Renaissance, the external materials used being red pressed bricks from Ruabon with Cefn stone dressings, the details of the stone work being of a very fine and delicate character. There is a spacious entrance hall and vestibule. The ground floor is devoted to offices, and the first floor is set aside for masonic purposes. On this floor there is a spacious vestibule, leading from which is the large room, 36 feet by 25 feet. On the opposite side is the banqueting hall, of the same dimensions, and between them a retiring-room. The lodge-room has also a Masonic property-room leading out of it, and the banqueting hall has a serving-room connected with the lift from the kitchen, which is placed above. The rooms are lofty, well ventilated, and the fittings throughout are very handsome and elaborate. Adequate lavatory accommodation is provided.  The second floor is arranged for the purposes of a club, and has a billiard-room 36 feet by 24 feet, three smoking and reading-rooms, with lavatory and other offices. The kitchen has been fitted by Messrs Longden and Co., Stafford Living rooms are provided on the upper floor for the caretaker. The lower story has been divided into offices, a portion of which has been taken by the Government for county court purposes, the present court-house, which also serves as a chapel, being most inadequate and inconvenient. Mr Asahel P. Bell, 32, St. Ann's-street, Manchester, is the architect; and the contract, which was about £6500, has been executed by Messrs William Jones and Co., 22, Duke-street, Liverpool. [North Wales Express 28 April 1882 page 8]

Henry Platt took a great interest in the affairs of Bangor and became the first mayor of the city in 1883. In recognition of his public service he was made a Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath. An enthusiastic freemason, he built, at his own expense, the Masonic Hall in Bangor and, for a time, bore personally, all its running expenses.