Sir James T Travis-Clegg, JP, DL, PGD, PAPGM

Sir James T Travis-Clegg, DL, JP (1874 – 1942)

Past Grand Deacon

Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master

Born James Travis Clegg at Moorfield House, High Crompton in 1874, Sir James Travis-Clegg was the son of the cotton mill owner John Travis Clegg. On his father’s death in 1895, he changed his name by deed poll to Travis-Clegg. On 1st October the following year, his wife Ada Roy (Lady Travis-Clegg) gave birth to their only child Godfrey Roy Travis-Clegg.

James Clegg became a member of Crompton Urban District Council becoming its Chairman from 1902-1904.

He also bought Whalley Abbey in 1900. At about the same time (1898) he was elected as the Crompton representative to Lancashire County Council eventually becoming its Chairman. In 1923 he sold Whalley Abbey to the Diocese of Blackburn and moved to Bailrigg House, which is now Lancaster University Health Centre.

As Chairman of the County Council he oversaw numerous large projects including the expansion of Edge Hill College in Ormskirk where he laid the foundation stone of the main building in 1931.

In 1933 he was knighted, becoming Sir James Travis-Clegg and he went on to serve as Constable of Lancaster Castle from 1930 until his death in 1942. He had retired in 1937.

Our accompanying picture still hangs in the Lancashire County Council Hall, Preston.

Masonic Career

W. Bro. Travis-Clegg was initiated into Abbey Lodge on the 9 December 1909, passed on the 13 January 1910 and raised on the 10 February 1910 by the W. Bro. Lieutenant Colonel JD Murray, Past Grand Treasurer (Lindsey Lodge 1135).

The Register of Members records him as being a Gentleman by profession. He became Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1913 only three years after being Raised and promoted to Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden in 1917.

His appointment as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master in 1921 was rather a unique  occasion in that Provincial Grand Lodge was unable to hold their usual meeting in April 1921 and inconsequence his appointment by Lord Darby, Provincial Grand Master, took place at a meeting of the Newall Lodge No. 1134 on the 3rd May 1921. He held this office until 1937.

His appointment as Past Junior Grand Deacon was also a unique occasion. Grand Lodge met in the Royal Albert Hall on the 25 October 1922 and his investiture coincided with the investiture of His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales a Senior Grand Warden. This was unique in the fact that it was the first time the heir to the Throne had not been in any chair other than The Most Worshipful Grand Master’s. His home was Whalley Abbey, which, in 1994, was the current venue for Abbey Lodge Installation Banquets.

As an Assistant Provincial Grand Master, he was a very accomplished orator and a copy of the speech he gave at the opening of the Haslingden Masonic hall can be found following this link. The message contained in this address is as valuable today as it was in 1923 particularly when the morality of Freemasons is constantly challenged by those outside the Brotherhood who are ignorant of its true precepts.

He was also a member of Albert Lodge No. 854, Great Martin Lodge No. 3985 and Latham Lodge No. 2229.