East Lancashire
Mark Benevolent Fund
ELMBF
Canon’s Close and Prior’s Close

The ELMBF are responsible for the administration of the two groups of flats and bungalows in East Lancashire, one in Bolton called Canon’s Close and the other in Blackburn named Prior’s Close
The properties were provided to give affordable accommodation to elderly Masons, their widows and dependants.
R.W. Brother Canon Taylor, PGM from 1948-1961 had been conscious for many years of the burden of upkeep of large old houses on elderly Masons, their widows and dependants, and wanted to find a way of providing rented accommodation for them at a reasonable cost.
He discussed it with Thomas Sharples Barlow and George Farnworth Nuttall, both later Provincial Grand Masters in East Lancashire, and after the death of Canon Taylor in 1961 they pressed on with the project.  With the help of many other brethren and the gift of land from R.W. Brother T.S. Barlow, eight flats were built at  the Canon's Close site in 1963/64 and work was started on a further eight bungalows.
Canon's Close is situated in the Smithills district of Bolton about 2 miles from the town centre. The site has nine bungalows, eight flats and eight apartments set in pleasant gardens with a service road and car parking facilities. Each unit is self-contained, has gas central heating and is double-glazed.
In 1984 the property adjoining Canon's Close came on the market and was purchased by the Fund. The property was demolished and a block of eight apartments, appropriately named Barlow House, was erected and were opened by the Grand Master, His Royal Highness, Prince Michael of Kent in December 1987.
Prior’s Close, The East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited was incorporated in 1966 and shortly afterwards Mrs Whittaker, widow of the late W.Bro. Henry Whittaker who had been a close friend of R.W. Bro. Barlow conveyed land and property in Preston New Road Blackburn to the Fund. It was decided to provide similar facilities to the Cannons Close site. The property was demolished and sixteen flats were built in the grounds and so Prior's Close was born. Priors Close is situated in the Preston New Road area of Blackburn about 1 1/2miles from the town centre. There are six two bedroom flats, ten single bedroom flats and two cottages situated in pleasant well-maintained gardens. Each unit is self-contained, has gas central heating and is double-glazed.
Over the years Lodges have been most generous and members have given and covenanted gifts towards the upkeep and maintenance of the properties. The London based Mark Fund of Benevolence has also made grants so that the Fund has been able to increase the number of units of accommodation which are available to elderly Mark Master Masons, their widows and dependants. The day-to-day management of Canon's Close and Prior's Close is carried out on behalf of the Committee of Management by local House Committees.