Last updated 16:05, Sunday, 18 May 2008

MARRIAGES may have been made in heaven elsewhere, but in Maryport they were more often than not sealed at the Palace Ballroom.

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Chrissie Patterson with members of her concert party, which has held countless fund-raising events at the hall

The Palace, now known as Maryport Civic Hall, on Lower Church Street, will be sold next month and probably demolished to make way for houses.

The loss of the Civic Hall to Maryport cannot be underestimated, especially for those whose youth was played out to the music of the big bands and the 50s and 60s pop groups.

Joe Loss, Billy Cotton, Edmundo Ross, Wayne Fontana, Heinz, Herman’s Hermits, The Four Pennies, Brian Poole and The Tremeloes and The Animals were just some of the acts to appear.

The venue could hold 1,200 people and it was full for the twice weekly dances; the more informal Wednesday night one and the posh one on a Saturday.

Dancing may have been an exaggeration as there was really only room to shuffle around the floor, according to three stalwarts who have been associated with the hall almost since it was opened on November 12, 1934.

Jean Davidson, 77, remembers getting a ticket, costing sixpence, in her Christmas stocking each year for the Palace Christmas party.

Jean says: “I can remember Santa coming down from the loft into the ballroom and we would all get a little present. The ticket was always in our stocking so I suppose the party was held just after Christmas. We loved it. ”

Her other favourite memory was Carols by Candlelight.

She recalls: “It used to start with the choir walking down the stairs from the balcony, holding their candles.

“The men would be on one side and the women on the other, the men in their dinner jackets and the women in ball gowns. It was so beautiful.”

Kath Wallace’s family ran English’s Cafe on Senhouse Street and catered for many events at the Palace and then the Civic.

As a member of the Conservative party, Kathleen, 87.was also responsible for organising many events herself.

“It was a politer time,” she recalls. “The boys would ask you to dance and they would see you back to your seat.”

Chrissie Patterson, 84, attended the early dances and has been responsible for countless fund-raising concerts there.

Chrissie owned a record shop in the town with her late husband Harrison. When stars played at the hall, they would often pop into her shop to see how their records were selling.

Harrison and John Slater, both stalwarts of the operatic and dramatic society, were largely responsible for turning the Civic Hall into a theatre large enough for the society’s most lavish productions.

The Palace was built by Harry Ritchie. His nephew, Bobby, 83, says: “He and my father, Duncan, were in business together at Ritchie Bros, but it was Harry who was the businessman.

“My father was more interested in the car side of the company. They had a car show room as part of the Palace.”

Bobbie remembers being used as ‘slave labour’ when the Palace was built. They used mainly recycled bricks from an old brewery and he had to scrape them clean.

Bobby met his wife, Eileen, at the local tennis club but their first date was at the Palace Ballroom in 1947.

Anyone who remembers the Palace remembers the sprung floor, reputedly the best in the county.

It was laid by an Italian firm and, it is said, the work was done behind closed doors so nobody knew how it was laid.

It was put to good use, however, and takes second place only to Maryport’s legendary Green Hut as the foremost venue for courting couples.

Sid Logan’s father owned a taxi firm and Sid was more interested in cars than dancing.

He says: “I used to take people home at the end of the night. They came from Workington, Aspatria, Cockermouth. Everyone came to the Palace.”

And if you were in uniform you’d get in free, he remembers.

The Palace was taken over by Allerdale council in the 1970s and closed for a few months for refurbishment. It opened again in 1977.

When its future was threatened, a users’ committee was formed which included Margaret Craig who was later to become manager and will be there until the doors close for the final time next month.

Margaret is 67 but had no intention of retiring just yet. Hall users are unanimous in their praise of a woman who not only helps them but organises her own functions to promote use of the hall.

It is still used for blood donor sessions, indoor bowling, keep fit classes, dance festivals and other community events.

Those organisations will have to find somewhere else and it is almost inevitable that the hall will be demolished.

But when it goes, say those who remember, some of the heart of Maryport will also go.

An exhibition of Civic Hall and Palace Ballroom memorabilia will be held from Saturday, June 21, at the Lower Church Street venue.