Hamlet Of Van Lodge No 8334 Ugle

Meets at Caerphilly Masonic Hall on the third Thursday of January and the fourth Thursdays of November, March, April, May, June and September

Hamlet of Van Lodge No. 8334

Motto: Cyfaillgarwch ac Ewyllys Da (Friendship and Goodwill)

In 1969 nineteen Brethren agreed to support the late W Bro R C O Blundell in forming a new Lodge in Caerphilly. They wished to do this in order to cater for those areas that were rapidly expanding around the villages of Bedwas, Machen and Rudry.

The Founders unanimously agreed that the Lodge name would be St Barwyg's, after the Patron Saint of the 13th century church in Bedwas but it was rejected for two reasons.

Firstly, there was a St Barruch's Chapter of Royal Arch about to be formed in Barry (Barrwg is the Welsh form of Barruch). Legend has it that St Barrwg was reputed to have been a member of an early Monastic Order which was established on the island of Flatholm in the Bristol Channel, and therefore quite close to the town of Barry.

The second reason was that St Barrwg's Church, Bedwas, lies within the Masonic Province of Monmouthshire.

Further consideration, therefore, had to be given to finding another, more acceptable name. Three suggestions were put forward.

PORSET - This is an area near the village of Bedwas, but actually situated in Glamorgan.

RUDRY - This is a small village and Parish near to the villages of Bedwas and Machen.

HAMLET OF VAN - This is an area adjoining both Bedwas and Machen and situated in Glamorgan. Although today this area is geographically small, centuries ago it covered quite a large area, which included Bedwas, Rudry, and land to the East of Caerphilly.

The first two did not meet the original intention of the Founders, who wished to have a much stronger connection with the Bedwas and Machen areas. It was therefore decided to adopt the name Hamlet of Van, which was submitted to Provincial Grand Lodge, who approved it.

It is believed that there is no other Lodge under the Registry of United Grand Lodge which has the prefix HAMLET.

The Lodge Badge includes two views of the dove cote that stood in the grounds of Van Manor, an Elizabethan Manor House, which had been a ruin for many years but now fully restored as a private dwelling, and which is situated on the outskirts of the village of Caerphilly.