Freemasonry in the United Kingdom

Freemasonry in the United Kingdom is an initiatory society that developed independently in medieval Scotland and England. Freemasons were originally stonemasons that formed individual lodges across the country. The first manuscript constitution derives from 1352 in York. During the 17th century the organisation began to take on a more familiar form as it increased in membership in the aftermath of the Great Fire of London. The organisation split into opposing factions in the eighteenth century but reunited to form the United Grand Lodge of England in 1813. During the 20th and 21st centuries, accusations were made that the Freemasons have undue influence over the police.