First Civic Wedding at Town Hall

Friday, 16 July 2010

The first civil wedding in Hebden Bridge took place in the town’s landmark Town Hall last Saturday (August 14th), when Alan Hinton and Deborah Newbold were married in the panelled Town Hall Chamber. 

The wedding follows a decision earlier this year by Hebden Bridge Community Association to apply for a licence for the Town Hall.  The six hundred strong Association took over leasehold ownership and management of the building in April, in a pioneering asset transfer agreement struck with Calderdale council.

Andrew Bibby, secretary of the Association, says: “We congratulate Alan and Deborah on their marriage and we’re delighted that they chose to tie the knot in the Town Hall.

“We have committed to bringing new life back to the Town Hall, and to offer services which previously haven’t been available locally.  Although the licence has cost us over a thousand pounds to obtain, we’ve been delighted with the interest which we’ve already attracted.  Several other weddings and civil partnerships are already booked in for the Town Hall over the next few months.”

After Saturday’s ceremony, the wedding was celebrated by morris dancing in St George’s Square, and celebratory drinks in the Shoulder of Mutton.  The wedding reception was in AJ’s fish restaurant and was followed by a disco in Heptonstall bowling club.