Union Lodge 127 of Freemasons is one the oldest Masonic Lodges meeting in Kent having first met in London in 1763. At that time the Lodge met in various public houses or taverns in the Spitalfields area of East London. The earliest members came from a variety of trades and included an Attorney at Law, a Gunsmith, a Wig Maker, a Distiller, a Victualler, a Tallow Chandler an a number of ‘Gents’. In 1788 the Lodge was meeting at the ‘Rose & Crown’ St. Catherine’s by the Tower, near to dockland and counted several ‘mariners’ amongst the membership. However, by 1807 the membership had dwindled until in 1813 five mariners from Margate were elected members and it was resolved to move the Lodge to Margate. The Lodge met at a number of private houses, taverns and hotels in Margate until in 1894 a house known as The Limes in Hawley Street was purchased which had a rear garden that led to New Cross Street. It was on that piece of land that a masonic hall was erected, and this continues to be where Union Lodge meets to this day. At the time of writing the members come from a wide range of occupations their ages extend from early twenties to seventies.