Ballroom floor to be replaced after 70 years

A ballroom floor which was once referred to as "the best outside of Blackpool" is set to be replaced after more than 70 years.

The floor at the Anstice in Madeley, Shropshire, is Canadian maple boarding and was obtained in the 1950s from the decommissioning of a World War Two base, applicants said.

Anstice Community Trust have applied to Telford & Wrekin Council to replace the flooring to "breathe life" back into the building, while improving facilities.

Even though the dance floor was cleaned and polished to extend its life, it is showing "significant signs of damage", applicants said.

The Anstice is a Grade II listed building built from 1868 in memory of John Anstice, the owner and manager of the Madeley Wood Company.

Widely respected as an employer and philanthropist, it was decided to build a working men's club as a memorial to him, in line with his wishes, after his death.

It was rebuilt after a devastating fire in March 1874, and the ballroom featured in dances, social events, bingo nights and many a Madeley couple's romance, bringing together the community, the applicants said.

They added: "The chandeliers have been restored to their former beauty and the ballroom windows now look as they would have been when the building was rebuilt following the fire."

Wayne Haslam, sales director at Floorstock, has written a floor condition report which recommends a Canadian Maple replacement which would give the floor another 60-plus years of life.

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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