FREEMASONS marked the end of an era when they held the last meeting in their Huddersfield building.

The hall in Fitzwilliam Street has been used by masons since 1855.

Up to four lodges have met there in recent years.

But declining membership and increasing maintenance costs have forced a sale of the building to a firm of accountants.

The nostalgic last gathering was held by the Hope Preceptory of Knights Templar, who have met there since 1857.

Its members wore colourful regalia to mark the occasion.

George Foster, a past master of the Lodge of Truth, one of the groups using the hall, said: "It's the end of an era.

"What has made the hall so special is that it was built as a masonic hall.

"It has never been anything else and is one of the oldest consistent halls in the country."

Lodges from Fitzwilliam Street will now meet at the Masonic Hall in Greenhead Road.

Mr Foster said the masonic movement was in good shape, despite the sale.

He added: "Membership has declined, as with all kinds of organisations. It makes sense to amalgamate buildings and lodges. But we are still thriving and very active."

Prominent masons of the past at Fitzwilliam Street included Bentley Shaw, a 19th-century son of a Lockwood brewing family.

Several mayors of Huddersfield were also connected with the hall.

Masonically, its most important person was Victorian statesman Viscount Goodrich, later to become Lord Ripon and a member of the Cabinet.

He was MP for Huddersfield and rose to the position of Grandmaster of the English Free- masons.