The Antient Grand Lodge of England or Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of England, according to the Old Constitutions was a rival Grand Lodge to the Premier Grand Lodge of England. It existed from 1751 until 1813 when the United Grand Lodge of England was created. They called themselves the Antients. The Grand Lodge was also informally called the Atholl Grand Lodge because the Third and Fourth Dukes of Atholl presided over them as Grand Masters for half of its 62-year existence.
The grand Lodge was founded in 1751 mainly by Irish freemasons, which were disillusioned by the way freemasonry had been changed by the freemasons of the Grand Lodge of England. On 17 July1751, representatives of five Lodges gathered at the Turk's Head Tavern, in Greek Street, Soho, London - forming a rival Grand Lodge of England According to the Old Institution. They accused the Grand Lodge founded in 1717, which they called the Moderns, of not adhering to the old customs of freemasonry and claimed that only themselves upheld the Craft's old customs.
