Off To Fred Dibnahs House

[jims-terrano]

As it says, my son has just told me we are going to Fred Dibnahs house in Bolton next weekend. Most of his kit has gone but still looking forward to seeing the old place.
Has anyone else been? Just wondering what to expect.

I know the place is due to be auctioned off next month, expected to go for £350k I believe.

[don simon]

Bolton's grim, mate. It's quite nice once you get up towards Winter Hill and Rivi. Ramsbottom is OK as there is a local brewery and the steam train and local scenery is OK. But Bolton...

[jims-terrano]

Yeah from what I’ve seen it probably is but not I’m not intending buying his house just going on a guided visit of Freds world. Apparently his workshop is still there and of course the pit head that he made as it’s a listed building.

[Lazy-Ferret]

Yeah from what I’ve seen it probably is but not I’m not intending buying his house just going on a guided visit of Freds world. Apparently his workshop is still there and of course the pit head that he made as it’s a listed building.Never been, but would love to see any pictures you take.

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[Blocky10]

I'm up in Bolton on 8th and 9th Feb and only 5 mins from Freds place. If I have time, I'll check this out:thumbs

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

dont forget to let us know if you can answer is question, "did you like that?"

[macabethiel]

I have only had the pleasure of going to Bolton once in my life . That was way back on the 4th January 2006 when I found a car I was looking for on the internet.

It was an Arthur Daley type of used car pitch "Star Cars" with a gravel drive with a Portacabin for an office. They had a Mercedes 300TE 4-matic for sale at £999, it had 6 months tax on as it was a salesman's daily wheels.

It had one previous Doctor Owner from new but no service history. When I lifted the bonnet I could see it had been well cared for as there were all new hoses and the engine oil was clean with a genuine MB oil filter.

It became one of my favourite used cars it was my first four wheel drive motor it served me well for 3 years until the rear self levelling suspension failed.

Often wished I had repaired the suspension rather than selling it for £150 last time I looked G 23 SST was SORN'ed .

[jims-terrano]

Just got back from Bolton, had an interesting visit and met Alf one of the friends that accompanied Fred on his toour of Britain with his traction engine.

[jims-terrano]

Acknowledging the man himself

[jims-terrano]

The house looks a lot bigger than it actually is, it really is a tiny place.

[jims-terrano]

I remember seeing this in his garden and always struck me as a great place for a pond but apparently it was supposed to be a flower bed but not sure it actually got finished. The coping stones are actually from the top of a chimney he demolished.

[jims-terrano]

Now his domain

[jims-terrano]

How on earth did he fit a traction engine or steam roller in there. It’s toastie warm in there with the old boiler from his steam roller now used as a wood burner.
In the foreground is what remains of the traction engine that had to be remade.

[macabethiel]

I have enjoyed all he TV programmes that featured Fred he was a real character in the broadest sense of the word.

[jims-terrano]

Apparently he was exactly the same in real life and if he saw you at the railings looking in he would invite you down into his yard and show you round.

I know life goes on but it seems so sad that the whole lot will be auctioned off. Another piece of history being torn apart but it would appear that people don’t appreciate the place and what the man did. When the place was empty after he passed away it was ransacked on numerous occasions. The current owner has to live there to protect the place whilst his wife lives elsewhere. I suppose as time passes by the name of Fred Dibnah will mean less and less as people forget and younger generations come along having never heard or seen anything of him so as a business the heritage centre will get less and less visitors.

It was well worth the visit for me and my son, the owner Leon and Alf really put a lot of effort into the visits. Full of little stories and anecdotes with information. The owner openly admits he never met Fred but it’s quite clear he genuinely cares about the place and it’s future.

If you look at the back of the house there is half a drainpipe in the centre of the rear face of the house. That’s actually a counter weight for a moving wall for a secret room in the house.

[zippy656]

Should have been a national trust or English heritage

[macabethiel]

I have a memory of him digging some sort of coal mine in his garden for a TV episode or did I dream that up?

[jims-terrano]

Yes it’s all there on YouTube but one of my photos is the winding gear