Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre

The steam driven pit head winding engine

All up for Grabs

Tis a shame to see such heritage lost

Trouble is, it doesn’t connect with younger generation

This is true..... the young uns in general aren’t interested in much at all unless it involves a controller of some description. There are certainly not many with any interest in this county’s engineering heritage, or steam or even Land Rovers really! It’s the way of the world and let’s face it, our ‘archaic’ hobbies and interests are now perceived as the reason for the world ending and everyone dying from the inhalation of dead dinosaurs.
Hmmmmmm........

Don't forget you can see Betsy & the Landrovers at Tarleton Steam Fair in April on what would have been Fred's 80th Birthday:

http://www.leisurelakessteamrally.co.uk/

Big shame, not many like him left now

Not surprised. It was a crap hole of a place and looking at the unkempt state of the place in the photos, still is.

Funny how the rest of the country romanticized about Fred. Locally he was just the bloke stupid enough to climb higher than anyone else. How his wife put up with living like that is beyond most of us.

Sad to see it go. I spoke to the owner when I was there in 2016 when he was trying to sell it. I can understand why it's closed. When he took it on it was run down. Peeps had been using it to sleep rough and thieves had been in to nick stuff. He put a lot of effort in and got slagged for profiting from Fred but the reality is somewhat different. He provided the opportunity for peeps to see and experience Fred's home and workshop. It's not financially viable to run for much longer and a buyer hasn't come forward. It would cripple him if it were to continue. It's already cost him a lot. He can't get grants or generate enough income to keep it going. Sad but that's how it is. It was always Fred's desire to leave behind something that could become part of history to put ye ole days on display. Hence building the pit head etc in his garden.

It's true the neighbours didn't like the noise, smell or fumes coming from what was essentially a foundry Fred was running in his back garden. He's part of popular British history and celebrated for that alone.

If yer want to buy a piece of Fred's workshop or even the workshop shed itself then the catalogue can be viewed online in the link below. Lot of junk but there is some good stuff. It's probably the last chance to buy one of Fred's spanners or other items before the collection is split up for good. Auction can be attended or yer can bid online via the web site if yer register.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/adampartridge/catalogue-id-adam-p10145

Looks like it raised about £64k before costs.

Usual web backlash against the sell oft. Some agree some don't. Strange how they never put the same effort in to join together to raise the funds to take over it themselves or as a group.

Fred's house is up for sale now

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-72482228.html

I would be very surprised if they get anything like that much in that area. It’s a bit of a chit tip.

Bobsticle said:

I would be very surprised if they get anything like that much in that area. It’s a bit of a chit tip.

Click to expand...

It's a sizeable property with a lot of potential car space at the rear. Also some unique features and a bit of history. Far from the £1m he was hoping for when selling the whole lot as a running trust some years ago.