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Leicestershire and Rutland, incorporating Northamptonshire and Derbyshire, was constituted as a Province in 1858, making them the third oldest Province in England and Wales. The other two counties became independent in 1894. Two Lodges in this Province were consecrated in 1858 and there is also one Lodge with Time Immemorial status. In total there are now 16 Lodges which is led by a Provincial Grand Master and his Deputy who are supported by a Provincial team of a Treasurer, Secretary and Director of Ceremonies.

The Order of the Holy Royal Arch is the final part of the four-stage journey from Initiation to Exaltation that is known as ‘Pure Antient Masonry’ - and is available to every Master Mason of at least four weeks standing. All our Chapters are associated with at least one of the 75 Lodges in the Province – and most bear a similar name and number to that Craft Lodge – and meet at the same venue. However, whilst many of our members do belong to these linked Craft and Chapter units, there are many who choose to join a different Chapter and even meet at a different venue – this widens their experience and circle of Masonic friends. Each Lodge in the Province now has a ‘Royal Arch Representative’ – so that every Master Mason has easy access to an experienced Royal Arch Companion, who can advise and guide them in taking this fourth and final step in their journey through ‘Pure Antient Masonry’.

Freemasonry in Leicestershire has been in existence since the Eighteenth Century. The earliest Lodge in Leicester was warranted by “the Moderns” in 1739. Our oldest Lodge in the Province is St John`s, which now bears the number 279. Col. Sir Thomas Fowke was the First Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire and was succeeded in 1789 by Thomas Boothby Parkyns (1st Lord Rancliffe in 1795). Following his death on 17th November 1800 the Province of Leicestershire was without a Grand Master until in 1812 his son, George, the 2nd Lord Rancliffe took the appointment. In 1850 Sir Fredrick Gustavus Fowke was appointed the fourth Provincial Grand Master and he was succeeded in 1856 by Richard William Penn, 1st Earl Howe, until in 1869 the Craft Provinces of Leicestershire and Rutland were combined.

The first Freemasons' lodges in Ashby de la Zouch were established by the French prisoners of war billeted here during the Napoleonic War. One is known to have been working in 1810 and another was in operation in 1814. Consecrated in 1859, the Ferrers and Ivanhoe Lodge No.779 meets at 18:00hrs. in the Masonic Hall, Lower Church Street, Ashby de la Zouch Leicestershire on the second Tuesday of the month, September to May. Installation, third Wednesday in October.