Freemasonry reached Suffolk in the 1730's, following the formation of the first Grand Lodge in 1715. As the number of Lodges spread outwards from London, the Grand Lodge decided that it needed to regulate, and retain control of, the activities of the lodges under its jurisdiction, and it introduced a second tier of management; the Province.

Provinces were generally based on existing county boundries, and in 1772 the Province of Suffolk was instituted. For some years this was a very informal arrangement led by a Provincial Grand Master, who was responsible for the oversight of all the Lodges in Suffolk, and who could himself establish new Lodges.

In time a Provincial hierarchy came into being, with its own officers, corresponding to those of the Lodges, and promotion to these offices became and intermediate honour for the members of the Lodges.

As the population of Suffolk grew in the 19^th century, so the number of Lodges grew, from 14 in 1813 to 22 in 1900, and continued to grow thereafter to the present 64 Lodges.

These Lodges are spread throughout Suffolk, but all accept the regulations laid down by Grand Lodge, and all are supervised by the Provincial Grand Lodge of Suffolk, all led by the present Provincial Grand Master, I.Barry J.Ross.

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