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Limestone Rock Lodge, named after the rocky outcrop on which the Castle was built, was formed in November 1822 and its first Master was a designer and portrait painter named Henry Roberts. It originally met in the old Grammar School in St Mary's Church yard but the building was taken down in 1827 and moved to its present position in York Street.

From 1823 to 1827 the Lodge met at the White Horse Inn in Church Brow (This inn was taken down and in its place stands St Mary's Church Hall / St Mary's Centre). It moved in 1827 to the Brownlow Arms in the Market Place (this building was taken down and rebuilt and is now occupied by the Yorkshire Bank). After 33 years at the Brownlow Arms, they moved in 1861 to the Swan Hotel in Castle Street and 15 years later, purchased premises in Church Street and York Street in 1876. These were later sold to the Mayor, Aldermen & Burgesses of the Borough of Clitheroe.

In 1881, the lodge moved to the Swan & Royal Hotel in Castle Street and remained there for 81 years until, in 1962, they had to find other premises because the rooms did not have adequate fire escape. They moved 51 years ago to their present meeting place, above the Conservative Club.

The Lodge is one of the oldest in the area but can trace its roots even earlier. Their history goes through Perseverence Lodge in Blackburn (founded 1815, the year of Wellington's victory at the Battle of Waterloo). Perseverence were founded by the Lodge of Benevolence (founded 1797) who were in turn founded by Antiquity Lodge, given their first Warrant in 1774 by the Duke of Atholl.